Group C fixtures
Sat 13 Jun23:00 BST
MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
Fri 19 Jun23:00 BST
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Wed 24 Jun23:00 BST
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Key players to watch
Achraf Hakimi
RB · PSG · C
Captain, reigning African player of the year and a 2025 Champions League winner; arguably the world's best right-back. Attacks relentlessly and takes set pieces.
UCL winner · set-piece taker
Brahim Díaz
AM · Real Madrid
The attacking fulcrum and in-form talisman: top scorer at AFCON 2025 (five in five) with 13 goals in 24 caps since switching to Morocco.
AFCON top scorer
Yassine Bounou
GK · Al-Hilal
The 2022 penalty-shootout hero and one of the tournament's best keepers; the foundation of a strong defence.
Shootout specialist
Noussair Mazraoui
DF · Manchester United
Versatile, tournament-tested defender from the 2022 semi-final run; comfortable across the back line.
Experienced defender
Sofyan Amrabat
MF · Real Betis
Combative midfield screen who shielded the defence superbly in Qatar; brings bite and energy.
Midfield destroyer
Bilal El Khannouss
AM · Stuttgart (loan)
The pick of the new generation — a creative spark Ouahbi has fast-tracked as the squad refreshes.
Emerging creator
Goals & output
More distributed since the loss of En-Nesyri: Brahim Díaz is the focal point, with Hakimi chipping in from full-back and set pieces, and younger forwards (El Khannouss, Talbi, Rahimi) sharing the load. A creative side that can also strike on the counter.
Set-piece duties
Penalties
Hakimi / Brahim Díaz
Free kicks
Hakimi / Brahim Díaz
Corners
Hakimi / Brahim Díaz
Set pieces are shared between captain Hakimi and Brahim Díaz, both of whom take penalties, free kicks and corners. Hakimi is a genuine dead-ball threat from range; Díaz's delivery and the aerial presence of the centre-backs make these dangerous — though Díaz did miss a penalty in the AFCON final.
Discipline read
▲Disciplined and well-organised — their 2022 run was built on defensive control — though Amrabat's combative style invites the odd booking. Generally a side that fouls smartly rather than recklessly.
Recent form
Africa's first World Cup semi-finalists (2022, beating Spain and Portugal en route to fourth). Topped their qualifying group comfortably and reached the AFCON 2025 final on home soil, where Brahim Díaz was the tournament's top scorer. Mohamed Ouahbi replaced Walid Regragui in March 2026 and has refreshed the squad — Ziyech, En-Nesyri and Boufal all left out.
Head-to-head history
v Brazil (13 Jun)
Beat Brazil in 2023
Won 2-1 in a 2023 friendly — Morocco's first victory over Brazil — so they open against the favourites with genuine belief at MetLife.
v Scotland (19 Jun)
Beat Scotland 3-0 at 1998 WC
The sides last met at the 1998 World Cup, where Morocco won 3-0 — Scotland's final game of that tournament. A pivotal second-round fixture in Foxborough.
v Haiti (24 Jun)
No meaningful history
Effectively a first competitive meeting, likely with knockout qualification on the line in Atlanta — Morocco would be heavy favourites.
Underdog & betting read
The verdict
The clear challenger to Brazil and a genuine dark horse for a deep run, with an elite right-back, an in-form No.10 and a proven knockout pedigree. Strong value to qualify and to finish top two; live to spring an upset on Brazil given that 2023 result.