Yassine Bounou States Morocco's Belief Is Central to Their World Cup Campaign

The Atlas Lions will face Brazil in their opening match at MetLife Stadium. Alongside Brazil, Morocco, who have been drawn in Group C, will also take on Haiti and Scotland.

Morocco have qualified for the World Cup finals on seven occasions: in 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018, 2022 and 2026.

Their finest achievement came in 2022 when they finished in fourth place, becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.

During the 2022 edition, Morocco produced the most remarkable run by any African team in World Cup history. They overcame Belgium, Spain, and Portugal to reach the semi-finals, eventually finishing fourth.

Morocco's Quality Remains

Ahead of their return in the 2026 edition, the experienced Bounou, who will lead from the front, is confident the Atlas Lions will enjoy a successful campaign.

"The quality of the players is still there," Bounou told FIFA.com. "The right mindset will also be there because it is a World Cup, and every player dreams of participating.

"For some, this might be their last one. For others, it will be their first time."

On whether Morocco have a chance to win the World Cup, Bounou said: "Let us be honest: there are teams that are bigger favourites than us.

"We, for our part, have been on this path of progress since 2022, so let us try to continue that. After that, there is no telling how far we might go."

Bounou added: "We feel that we are still respected, and that must give us confidence. I think there is a sense of belief that we perhaps did not feel before, as an African team."

Morocco Determined to Make History

Reflecting on the 2022 edition in Qatar, Bounou, who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, said: "In 2022, the atmosphere was indeed incredible. We were all determined to make our mark on the history of Moroccan and African football."

Bounou has not let up in the slightest. In his last 37 appearances for the national team, the Al Hilal man has conceded just 14 goals, at an average of 0.37 per game.

"I am probably a little better prepared mentally, thanks to my experience. My main goal is to approach the competition with a real sense of enjoyment, to give it my all, and above all, to have no regrets," offered the former Sevilla goalkeeper.

Bounou concluded: "At the 2026 World Cup, Morocco will make their mark on world football once again.

"I am sure the Moroccan people will be proud of and pleased with the team. Let us hope we can pull off something really, really big again, just like we did in 2022."

Morocco made their first appearance on the global stage at the 1970 Mexico World Cup. Although they exited in the group stage, they earned a highly respectable 1-1 draw against Bulgaria and proved they could compete against established footballing nations.

After playing Brazil, Morocco will take on Scotland at Boston Stadium on June 20th before concluding their group matches against Haiti at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 25th.