Morocco

Morocco's 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar was the tournament's defining story. A team from North Africa, competing in their region's first ever semifinal appearance, systematically dismantled Belgium, Spain, and Portugal before losing narrowly to France in the semifinals. The tactical sophistication, defensive organization, and collective intensity that Walid Regragui's side demonstrated shocked a football world that had not fully registered how dramatically the African game had developed. Every one of those eliminated European giants argued their defeat was an aberration. Morocco fans argued it was a glimpse of something structural and sustainable. The 2026 campaign begins under new circumstances. Manager Mohamed Ouahbi replaced Regragui in March 2026, making him an unknown quantity in terms of tournament management at the highest level. The squad retains its core, but the transition in the technical staff introduces variables that were not present in 2022. Achraf Hakimi remains at PSG as one of the finest right-backs in world football — his attacking runs, combined with disciplined defensive recovery, give Morocco a structural advantage in their preferred 4-3-3 system. Youssef En-Nesyri leads the attack with the physical presence and aerial ability that creates problems for even elite European center-back pairings. The group draw, however, is brutal. Group C places Morocco alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. Brazil in a World Cup group is always the hardest possible test for a team with genuine ambitions — but it also presents the most dramatic opportunity. If Morocco can reproduce their 2022 defensive discipline and topple Brazil in the group stage, the sporting world will again be forced to re-evaluate where African football genuinely stands. Sofyan Amrabat's injury concern is the primary squad uncertainty. His midfield presence in 2022 was central to Morocco's ability to press high and protect their defensive structure simultaneously. At +5000 odds, Morocco represent the longest-odds team on this list — and among the most exciting to watch.