Ancelotti labels Morocco “toughest opponent” after World Cup draw

Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted Morocco will pose a tough challenge after they were drawn together in Group C of the 2026 World Cup.

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup placed Morocco in Group V alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. This marked Morocco’s seventh World Cup appearance, and their third consecutive qualification, underlining the team’s consistency as Africa’s leading side.

While analyzing the draw, Ancelotti singled out the North African nation as the toughest in the pile. He further said Morocco’s performance in the previous World Cup Qatar, where they reached the semifinals stage, had changed how the world views them.

Brazil against Morocco match will be complicated

“Morocco played excellent football in Qatar and reached the last four. They are very strong, and the match against them will be complicated,” Ancelotti said as quoted by Morocco World News.

“They play high level football, they keep winning, and they were amazing in the last World Cup. They also have a very good coach.”

Morocco will enter the tournament with confidence after their historic semifinal run in Qatar 2022, where they became the first African and Arab nation to reach the last four. The 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history, with 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, plus a UEFA playoff winner. Mexico will open the tournament in Mexico City.
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, plus a UEFA playoff winner.
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti.
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, plus a UEFA playoff winner.
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao (debut).
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, European playoff Route B winner.
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.
Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde (debut).
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Intercontinental playoff winner.
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.
Group K: Colombia, Portugal, Uzbekistan, Intercontinental playoff winner.
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana.