Spain's De la Fuente Names Morocco Among 2026 World Cup Favorites

When Spain's national team coach names you as a legitimate World Cup contender, the football world takes notice. Luis de la Fuente's year-end assessment for AS newspaper didn't just acknowledge Morocco's potential—it positioned the Atlas Lions in the same breath as Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, and Portugal for the 2026 tournament. This isn't diplomatic courtesy; it's a data-driven recognition of a nation that has fundamentally transformed its football identity.

The Numbers Behind the Bold Prediction

De la Fuente's confidence stems from Morocco's extraordinary recent record. The Atlas Lions currently sit 11th in FIFA's world rankings with 1,716.34 points—tantalizingly close to breaking into the top 10 for the first time since April 1998. They trail 10th-placed Croatia by just 0.54 points, a margin so slim it underscores how close Morocco is to joining football's elite tier.

But rankings alone don't tell the full story. Between June 2024 and December 2025, Morocco assembled a world-record 19 consecutive international victories, obliterating Spain's previous benchmark of 15 straight wins set between 2008 and 2009. During this historic run, the Atlas Lions scored 55 goals while conceding a mere four, maintaining 14 clean sheets across competitive World Cup qualifiers, AFCON qualifiers, and friendlies. The streak—which spanned 21 months—finally ended with a 1-1 draw against Mali at AFCON 2025, but the damage to Morocco's reputation as a football force had already been done.

Youth Success Signals Sustainable Pipeline

De la Fuente specifically highlighted Morocco's U-20 World Cup triumph as evidence of institutional strength. In October 2025, the Atlas Cubs shocked Argentina 2-0 in Santiago, Chile, with star forward Yassir Zabiri—who finished as the tournament's Golden Boot winner with five goals—netting both decisive strikes. Morocco became only the second African nation to capture the U-20 crown, 16 years after Ghana's historic 2009 victory.

The path to that title demonstrated Morocco's capacity to compete with football's traditional powers. They defeated Spain 2-0 and Brazil 2-1 in the group stage, eliminated South Korea 3-1 in the Round of 16, overcame the United States 3-1 in the quarterfinals, and survived a dramatic penalty shootout against France in the semifinals. Under coach Mohamed Ouahbi's guidance, this young generation displayed tactical sophistication and mental resilience that mirror the senior team's attributes.

Global Talent Distribution Strengthens Case

The Spanish tactician emphasized that Morocco's stars now feature across Europe's top leagues—a crucial factor in international competitiveness. Players like Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid), Sofyan Amrabat (Fenerbahçe), and Youssef En-Nesyri (various top-tier clubs) bring Champions League and elite domestic competition experience to the national setup.

This diaspora of talent, combined with Morocco's own domestic development programs under the Royal Moroccan Football Federation's vision, creates what De la Fuente described as "a team with world-class players in their lineup." The blend of European-based professionals and domestically-trained prospects—exemplified by their 2025 FIFA Arab Cup victory with an A' team composed primarily of local-league players—shows organizational depth rare outside traditional football powerhouses.

From Qatar Semi-Finalists to Genuine Contenders

Morocco's fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar—where they became the first African and Arab nation to reach a semifinal—was initially viewed as a cinderella story. But sustained excellence since then has reframed that achievement as a foundation rather than an anomaly. Their current form suggests the Atlas Lions have graduated from "surprise package" to "expected threat."

De la Fuente's assessment that the 2026 World Cup will feature more genuine title contenders than any previous edition reflects this shift. Morocco's inclusion in that conversation—alongside nations with multiple World Cup titles and decades of consistent excellence—marks a seismic change in international football's power dynamics. With co-hosting duties for the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal already secured, Morocco's football infrastructure and competitive trajectory point to a nation establishing itself as a long-term force.