Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui says Morocco must prove their historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals was not a one-off as the Atlas Lions prepare for another major tournament in 2026.
Mazraoui, one of 13 United players set to feature at the World Cup for their respective countries, is expected to play a key role for Morocco when they open their campaign against Brazil next weekend.
The full-back will also come face to face with club teammate Matheus Cunha in what promises to be one of the standout individual battles of the group stage.
Speaking to club media, Mazraoui reflected on the growing expectations around the Moroccan national team and the pressure that now comes with their recent success on the global stage.
When discussing conversations with teammates ahead of the tournament, he said:
“When you have time, we talk about the club, everything. This subject as well, especially [with] Cunha, because he’s probably going to play left or right winger, [if he’s] on my [side], then [it’s] 1v1, so it’s going to be fun.”
Morocco’s rise has been one of the defining African football stories of the past decade, culminating in their breakthrough performance in Qatar in 2022, where they became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.
Mazraoui was part of that squad, and he believes that achievement has fundamentally changed how the team is now viewed internationally.
“I think we’ve been doing really good on an international level as well as in Africa itself. So yeh, expectations are much higher than they were four years ago because we’ve reached that and because we’ve done pretty well the last four or five years.
“So yeh, the expectations are bigger and it’s up to us to handle that kind of pressure and to show again that you can do the same thing that you did four years ago, and it’s not just luck and it’s going to be like a constant level. I think that’s our biggest ambition for us.”
The defender’s comments highlight a shift in Morocco’s mindset: from surprise contenders in 2022 to a team now expected to consistently challenge football’s elite.
Where once their run in Qatar was celebrated as a breakthrough moment, there is now a sense that maintaining that level is the real challenge.
Morocco head into the 2026 tournament with increased scrutiny but also growing belief, built on strong recent performances and a squad that has gained experience across Europe’s top leagues.
Their group stage fixtures will provide an early test of their credentials, starting with a high-profile clash against Brazil on 13 June in New York/New Jersey Stadium.
They then face Scotland on 19 June in Boston, before concluding their group campaign against Haiti on 25 June in Atlanta.
