Morocco head coach Walid Regragui says facing Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be a “dream” match-up for his team, after the draw placed the Atlas Lions alongside the five-time world champions.

Speaking moments after the draw in Washington, Regragui described the fixture as an honour and an opportunity for Morocco to measure itself against one of football’s greatest nations.

“Playing against Brazil is a dream for everyone. It is an honour for us; Brazil is the country of football, and for Moroccans, it is an example,” he said.

“We have great respect for the Selecao, but let’s be honest, it will be a great game. May the better team win.”

Morocco, World Cup semi-finalists in Qatar 2022, have been widely tipped as Africa’s leading challengers in the expanded 2026 edition.

Their group, however, now features one of the tournament favourites in a meeting that will instantly become one of the most anticipated games of the opening phase.

Regragui’s side famously eliminated European giants Spain and Portugal on their way to making history two years ago, but Brazil represents a different type of test—one the coach believes his players will embrace with confidence and respect.

For Moroccan fans, the fixture is likely to evoke memories of recent friendly meetings in which the Atlas Lions have shown they can compete with elite opponents.

With Regragui determined to prove Morocco’s rise is no accident, the coach’s reaction suggests the African heavyweights are not intimidated by reputation—only inspired by the opportunity.

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Reaction to the 2026 World Cup draw that was conducted in Washington on Friday.

GROUP A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, European Playoff D

JAVIER AGUIRRE, MEXICO HEAD COACH

“There are no small opponents, we mustn’t get complacent, we have to work hard. We’ll have to wait to find out who our European opponent will be. We’ll be repeating our opening match (against South Africa) from 15 years ago and we’ll have to be ready.”

GROUP B: Canada, European Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland

JESSE MARSCH, CANADA HEAD COACH

“I believe it’s a group we can win and I would have said that no matter who was in the group because I believe in our team, I believe in the strength of our team, I believe in the confidence in our team and playing at home will be a big advantage.

“We’re not going to (be) overconfident, we’re going to be very realistic, we’re going to stay focused, we’re going to go about it in machine-like performances day in and day out like we have the whole time we have been together.”

GROUP C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

CARLO ANCELOTTI, BRAZIL HEAD COACH

“We have strong rivals in the group and we have to work hard for the first game against Morocco. A draw is a draw. It could have been an easier draw, but it was a little more difficult. We have a clear goal of finishing first in the group.”

STEVE CLARKE, SCOTLAND HEAD COACH

“One of the big things in my head was no European teams so we’re playing three top sides from three different continents and that’s what the World Cup is all about. So I think it’s a really good draw.”

WALID REGRAGUI, MOROCCO HEAD COACH

“Playing against Brazil is a dream for everyone. It is an honour for us; Brazil is the country of football, and for Moroccans, it is an example. We have great respect for the Selecao, but let’s be honest, it will be a great game. May the best team win.”

GROUP D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, European Playoff C

MAURICIO POCHETTINO, U.S. HEAD COACH

“My message to the players is Paraguay, Australia and the other team (playoff winner) is going to be difficult. We need to prepare like each game is the final of the World Cup. Thinking we should win before we play the games is the wrong mindset.”

ALEXI LALAS, AMERICAN SOCCER GREAT

“If you believe in the soccer gods, you should be thanking them. This is not just a good group, this is a great group, and this is a group that you should expect this United States team, under Mauricio Pochettino, to win and go through. I don’t want to say it’s an easy group, but we also have to be realistic with what we got here.”

TONY POPOVIC, AUSTRALIA HEAD COACH

“Finally finding out exactly who we will be playing at the FIFA World Cup 2026 makes it all feel a lot more real. Now the real planning can begin. There is still a bit of unknown in drawing a team from UEFA Play-Off C, and we play them first – but we’re excited. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is always hard and we have a tough group, but we’re looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”

GROUP E: Germany, Curacao, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador

DICK ADVOCAAT, CURACAO HEAD COACH

“It is a fantastic draw for Curacao. To play the opening match against a major football nation like Germany is of course wonderful. It is already so special to be on this stage with Curacao, and now we face three countries from different continents. All three teams are difficult opponents. We will see what it will bring us with Curacao. We will take it as it comes, but this draw is very good.”

GROUP G: Belgium, Iran, New Zealand, Egypt

HOSSAM HASSAN, EGYPT HEAD COACH

“Egypt has legitimate ambitions and a real chance to go as far as possible. We will focus on our work, and we have time after the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be a strong opportunity and preparation for the World Cup… along with the international break matches. Anyone who wants to go far and bring joy to the fans must work hard and stay committed.”

DARREN BAZELEY, NEW ZEALAND HEAD COACH

“It’s a good group. We had to wait for it, the last name out of the hat. Kept us waiting and waiting. It’s a good group, tough teams but we knew they were all going to be tough games. We’ve got a top-10 team in the world in Belgium and then a really good team out of Asia and then Egypt, who we know a little bit more about because we played them a couple of years ago. When you look across, there could’ve been some tougher groups, but we still know it’s a big challenge.”

GROUP F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, European Playoff B

HAJIME MORIYASU, JAPAN HEAD COACH

“I felt we were drawn in an extremely tough group. The Netherlands are one of the world’s top nations – they haven’t won one yet, but been to the final. Tunisia had nine wins and a draw in the qualifiers without conceding, very solid and astute. I want our players to make their presence felt in daily activities at their clubs to win the fierce battle for the World Cup squad. We have a shared goal of winning the World Cup – I know it won’t be easy, but I want us to prepare with confidence. We can definitely do it.”

GROUP H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

LUIS DE LA FUENTE, SPAIN HEAD COACH

“The fact that we are seen as favourites is a recognition of the level of Spanish football. Let’s appreciate that. But that doesn’t guarantee anything, and the praise won’t weaken us. Quite the contrary. We have a great responsibility, we want to do something important in this World Cup. And that means doing well in the group stage and continuing to move forward, because the matches will become increasingly difficult.”

GROUP I: France, Senegal, FIFA Playoff 2, Norway

ADRIEN RABIOT, FRANCE MIDFIELDER

“A fairly strong group, but as we know it’s a World Cup — the teams that are there deserve to be there, and we’ll have to fight to reach the next stage. We’ll need to be in good shape after a very long season, because the teams that will perform best will be those who are physically strongest.”

STALE SOLBAKKEN, NORWAY HEAD COACH

“We got a tough draw. France and Spain are the two best European teams, and Senegal, they have a good generation now. Of course, we can beat Senegal, and we can beat Bolivia, and we can on our maximum, maximum day take points from France. That’s the attitude we need to have when we go into this here.”

PAPE THIAW, SENEGAL HEAD COACH

“It’s always a pleasure to play against France. It’s a country we know well — for me, it’s my second home. Twenty-four years later, we face them again. In 2002, it went well for us. This will not be an easy match. We will be well prepared.”

GROUP J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

LIONEL SCALONI, ARGENTINA HEAD COACH

“We’re going to give it our all and try to do what we did in the last World Cup, which is to give everything we can, not give up on any ball. That’s what this team has been doing.”

VLADIMIR PETKOVIC, ALGERIA HEAD COACH

“In the first match against Argentina, we will not play as a defeated team. We are thrilled to face Argentina in the opening game, as that could serve as preparation for the next two matches, which will be very important. It’s a very exciting group.”

JAMAL SELLAMI, JORDAN HEAD COACH

“The group is strong, but we have our chances. Facing (Lionel) Messi is exceptional, but the World Cup does not recognise chances, Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. Motivation is important for the players, and playing against Argentina, Austria, and Algeria is a valuable experience. At global tournaments, there are no major gaps, and we hope to represent Jordanian football in the best possible way.”

GROUP L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

THOMAS TUCHEL, ENGLAND HEAD COACH

“It’s a difficult group and a difficult opening match against Croatia, they were the top seeds in pot two and Ghana from pot four is a regular in the World Cups and they have some of the best players like (Antoine) Semenyo and (Mohammed) Kudus playing in the Premier League with a lot of quality.”

-Reuters

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Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup were handed a mix of glamorous showdowns, manageable pathways and daunting early challenges after the group-stage draw was conducted in Washington D.C. on Friday. 

The expanded 48-team format, being used for the first time, has produced several headline fixtures involving African nations, who now have a clear picture of the journey ahead in the United States, Mexico and Canada next June.

The continent enters the tournament with nine confirmed qualifiers — with DR Congo still potentially joining via the intercontinental play-offs — and the draw served up a series of compelling matchups that immediately set the tone for Africa’s ambitions on the global stage.

Morocco to face Brazil as South Africa land Mexico test

Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked side and semi-finalists in Qatar 2022, headline the continent’s assignments after being drawn into Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.

It is arguably the group of the World Cup’s African contingent, pitting the Atlas Lions against five-time world champions Brazil in a fixture certain to draw global attention.

South Africa, returning to the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010, find themselves in Group A with co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and the winner of European Play-off A.

Bafana Bafana face a balanced but highly competitive slate as they aim to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history

Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia and Egypt handed balanced routes

Several African sides avoided the tournament’s most imposing opposition.
Cote d’Ivoire, champions of Africa in 1992, 2015 and 2023, were placed in Group E with Germany, Curaçao and Ecuador.

Though Germany are strong favourites, the Elephants will feel they have a realistic route to the knockout rounds.

Tunisia will compete in Group F, meeting the Netherlands, Japan and a European play-off winner.

While the Dutch present a formidable challenge, Tunisia have shown resilience in recent tournaments and will view Japan and the play-off entrant as winnable fixtures.

Egypt, who return to the World Cup for the first time since 2018, arguably received one of the continent’s more favourable groups.

The Pharaohs enter Group G to face Belgium, Iran and New Zealand — a balanced draw that offers the seven-time African champions a strong opportunity to progress

Cape Verde and Algeria face heavyweight challenges

Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup appearance will begin in Group H against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

For the Blue Sharks, the campaign represents both a historic test and a chance to showcase their rapid rise in African football.

Algeria, meanwhile, were handed one of the toughest assignments of any African team. The Desert Foxes land in Group J alongside Argentina, Austria and Jordan.

Their opening fixture against the reigning world champions will be among the most anticipated ties of the group stage.

Senegal renew rivalry with France as Ghana pulled into stern Group L

Senegal, Africa’s highest-ranked side behind Morocco, will again face France — their opponents in the iconic 2002 World Cup opener.

Drawn into Group I with France, Norway and the winner of a South American–Asian play-off, the Lions of Teranga are set for a demanding but compelling campaign.

Ghana enter Group L, confronting England, Croatia and Panama.

The Black Stars have a history of delivering on the World Cup stage and will need to recapture that form to navigate one of the most balanced but challenging groups of the draw.

DR Congo still hope to join Africa’s contingent

Group K may yet feature another African representative, with DR Congo positioned to join Portugal, Colombia and the intercontinental play-off winner — provided they advance past Jamaica and then Iraq in March’s qualification tournament.

A landmark tournament awaits

With blockbuster fixtures, historic reunions and real opportunities for progression, Africa’s World Cup journey begins with enormous intrigue.

The continent’s teams will now intensify their preparations as the countdown begins to the most ambitious and geographically vast World Cup ever staged.

What are the 2026 World Cup groups?

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, European Play-Off D winner (Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia or Republic of Ireland)

Group B: Canada, European Play-Off A winner (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland or Wales), Qatar, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, European Play-Off C winner (Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia or Türkiye)

Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, European Play-Off B winner (Albania, Poland, Sweden or Ukraine), Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, IR Iran, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Play-Off Tournament winner 2 (Bolivia, Iraq or Suriname), Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, FIFA Play-Off Tournament winner 1 (DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia), Uzbekistan, Colombia

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama  

-Cafonline

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