Patrick Vieira, the legendary former French midfielder, has tipped Morocco as a dark horse capable of making a deep run in the 2026 World Cup. During his appearance on The Rest Is Football podcast, Vieira expressed his belief that the Atlas Lions possess the necessary talent to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. This confidence comes on the heels of their historic 2022 performance, where they became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals before eventually falling to a runner-up France side.
Morocco is set to challenge the Netherlands, the winners of Group F, in the upcoming Round of 32 match. While Vieira is optimistic about Morocco’s chances, he remains skeptical regarding the prospects of other smaller nations making it to the final four. He suggests that achieving such heights will likely prove too difficult for the tournament’s underdog teams.