World Cup
Six Teams Battle for Final World Cup 2026 Spots as Play-Offs Kick Off
By Kunle Solaja.
The race for the final places at the FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its decisive phase this week, with six nations set to compete in the intercontinental play-off tournament beginning on 26 March.
Bolivia, DR Congo, Jamaica, Iraq, New Caledonia and Suriname will battle for just two remaining tickets to the expanded 48-team global finals, bringing years of qualification campaigns down to a handful of decisive matches.
The tournament will be staged in Mexico, with matches played at Guadalajara and Monterrey, where semi-finals will take place on 26 March before the finals on 31 March.
Pathway One: DR Congo Await Opponent
In Guadalajara, New Caledonia face Jamaica in the opening semi-final, with the winner advancing to meet DR Congo in the decisive clash.
For DR Congo, this represents a chance to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire. Their journey to this stage has been remarkable, having eliminated continental heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria in African qualifying.
Jamaica, seeking a first World Cup appearance since France 1998, will rely on the attacking threat of players such as Leon Bailey, while New Caledonia are chasing a historic debut on the global stage.
The winner of this pathway will advance to a challenging group featuring Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan at the World Cup.
Pathway Two: Bolivia, Iraq Eye Return
In Monterrey, Bolivia take on Suriname in the second semi-final, with Iraq awaiting the winner in the final.
Bolivia, who last appeared at the World Cup in 1994, are aiming for a return after an encouraging qualifying campaign that included a notable victory over Brazil.
Suriname, meanwhile, are targeting a historic first qualification, having already reached unprecedented heights by making the play-off tournament.
Iraq, bidding for their first World Cup appearance since 1986, progressed dramatically through Asian qualifying and will be confident of finishing the job in Mexico.
The successful team from this pathway will move into a formidable group alongside France, Norway and Senegal.
Dreams on the Line
For all six teams, the play-off tournament represents a final opportunity to turn years of effort into World Cup qualification.
While nations such as DR Congo, Iraq and Bolivia seek long-awaited returns, New Caledonia and Suriname are chasing history with potential maiden appearances.
With only two places available, the margin for error is nonexistent, making the Mexico showdowns a high-stakes climax to the global qualifying campaign.
By the end of March, two nations will celebrate entry onto football’s biggest stage, while four others will see their World Cup dreams come to an end.
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By Kunle Solaja, Vancouver
Morocco’s players insist they are not satisfied with making history in Qatar 2022 and are now focused on pushing African football to even greater heights.
The Atlas Lions head into their opening World Cup match against Brazil buoyed by a series of achievements that have transformed the country’s football landscape.
In addition to the senior team’s World Cup exploits, Morocco’s Under-20 side captured the nation’s first FIFA title in 2025, defeating Argentina 2-0 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup final in Chile.
The success has reinforced Morocco’s growing reputation as a football powerhouse, backed by significant investment in infrastructure, youth development and coaching.
Facing Brazil presents the ultimate benchmark.
While the South Americans remain favourites, Morocco have already shown they can overcome football’s aristocrats. Their victories over Spain and Portugal in Qatar changed perceptions worldwide, while the win over Brazil in Tangier provided further evidence of their growing stature.
Now, with another World Cup campaign beginning, the Atlas Lions are determined to show that Moroccan football’s rise is far from over. Their first test comes against the most decorated nation in World Cup history, but Morocco have built a reputation for thriving when the odds are stacked against them.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nearly three decades after Brazil ended Morocco’s 1998 World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory in France, the Atlas Lions have a chance to settle an old score when the two nations meet again in Group C.
The teams have met only once before at a World Cup, when goals from Brazilian stars Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto secured victory in Nantes.
Morocco have never defeated South American opposition at the World Cup, having also suffered a 3-0 loss to Peru in 1970. Yet the current generation has repeatedly shattered barriers that once appeared impossible.
The Atlas Lions arrive unbeaten in their last four World Cup group-stage matches, having won two and drawn two during their memorable run in Qatar. Another positive result against Brazil would further cement their reputation as one of world football’s emerging powers.
For many Moroccan supporters, the match represents more than just a group-stage fixture. It is an opportunity to demonstrate how far the national team has progressed since its previous World Cup encounters with football’s traditional giants.
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World Cup
Morocco Ready to Test Themselves Against Brazil as Atlas Lions Chase More World Cup History
By Kunle Solaja
Morocco will launch another chapter of their remarkable World Cup journey when they face five-time champions Brazil in a heavyweight Group C clash, determined to prove that their historic run at Qatar 2022 was no one-off achievement.
The Atlas Lions arrive in North America carrying the hopes of a continent after becoming the first African nation to reach the FIFA World Cup semi-finals four years ago. Now, they are seeking to build on that achievement against one of football’s most successful nations.
Morocco’s path to the 2026 World Cup was flawless. The North Africans won all eight of their qualifying matches, becoming the first African country to secure a place at the tournament and underlining their status as one of the continent’s leading football powers.
Despite Brazil’s rich World Cup pedigree, Morocco will draw confidence from their most recent meeting. In March 2023, the Atlas Lions defeated Brazil 2-1 in Tangier, a victory that demonstrated their ability to compete with the world’s elite teams.
The challenge, however, remains immense. Brazil have won a record five World Cup titles and boast the tournament’s records for victories and goals scored. Yet Morocco believe they possess the quality and experience to upset the South Americans once again.
Much attention will focus on the battle between Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi and Brazil skipper Marquinhos, who are teammates at Paris Saint-Germain but rivals for 90 minutes in New Jersey.
The Atlas Lions also carry memories of their remarkable Qatar campaign, where they topped a group featuring Croatia and Belgium before eliminating Spain and Portugal en route to the semi-finals.
With confidence high and expectations growing, Morocco view the encounter as an opportunity to announce themselves once again as genuine contenders on football’s biggest stage.
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