The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up in Africa, and one team is already ahead of the pack — Morocco. The Atlas Lions, as they are famously called, became the first African nation to officially qualify for the tournament. But even though they’ve punched their ticket to North America, coach Walid Regragui isn’t slowing down. His goal? Keep winning, stay unbeaten, and show the rest of the world that Morocco is here to dominate.
The 2026 World Cup will be special because, for the first time ever, it will be hosted by three countries: the United States (main host), Canada, and Mexico. The tournament is also expanded to 48 teams, meaning more countries will get a chance to shine on the biggest stage. Africa has been given nine automatic qualification spots, plus one more through an intercontinental play-off. Morocco grabbed one of those nine spots earlier than anyone else.
How Morocco Qualified Early
Morocco secured their qualification in style. On matchday seven, they crushed Niger 5-0 in Rabat. The victory sealed the top spot in Group E with two matches left to play. That means no other team in the group could catch them, so Morocco officially booked their place in the finals.
Their journey in the group stages has been almost perfect:
Beat Tanzania twice (2-0, 2-0) ✅
Defeated Zambia 2-1 ✅
Smashed Congo 6-0 ✅
Edged Niger 2-1, then destroyed them 5-0 ✅
The only reason Morocco didn’t play all the expected games is because Eritrea withdrew from the group earlier, which made things easier for the other teams.
This qualification is historic because it is Morocco’s third World Cup in a row and their seventh overall. Their reputation has grown massively in recent years, especially after their unforgettable run in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they became the first African and Arab team to reach the semifinals. They beat giants like Spain and Portugal before finally losing to France. That run earned Morocco worldwide respect.
Regragui’s Plan Against Zambia
Even though Morocco is already through, coach Regragui insists the team wants to win every game. Speaking ahead of their match against Zambia at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, he made it clear:
“We have come here already qualified, we know what we have to do, we are Morocco, and we have come here to win because we are Morocco.”
That confident statement reflects the new mentality of Moroccan soccer — they don’t just want to participate; they want to dominate.
Interestingly, Regragui also revealed that he would rest about 80% of the players who destroyed Niger. Some stars like Achraf Hakimi (PSG right-back and one of the best defenders in the world) need recovery time because of busy schedules in Europe. Still, he promised that whoever steps onto the field will be competitive.
This shows Morocco’s squad depth. Even if their big names rest, the replacements are still top quality, playing in major European leagues like La Liga, Premier League, Serie A, and Ligue 1.
Zambia’s Challenge Under Avram Grant
On the other side, Zambia is preparing for a tough fight. Their coach, Avram Grant, is no stranger to big games. The Israeli coach once managed Chelsea in the English Premier League, even reaching the 2008 UEFA Champions League final with the London club.
Grant admitted Morocco will be a difficult opponent:
“Morocco is a very good team. We congratulate Morocco for qualifying to the World Cup. Moreover, in Qatar they came out in the semi-final, they played fantastic, they have a very good team, we saw in the reverse game against us.”
But he also expressed confidence in his Chipolopolo squad. Zambia is chasing second place in the group, which could give them a chance to fight for a playoff spot. Grant said the return of key players has improved the squad, and even though results have been unlucky, the team spirit is strong.
The Bigger Picture in African Qualifying
For this World Cup, the nine group winners across Africa will automatically qualify. Then, the four best runners-up from all groups will face each other in a mini-playoff. The winner of that playoff gets a chance to go into the FIFA intercontinental play-off, where they could battle teams from Asia, South America, or Oceania for one more ticket.
So far, Morocco is the only African team that has officially qualified. But other favorites like Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, and Cameroon are still fighting in their groups.
Fun fact: Africa has sent teams to the World Cup since 1970, but Morocco was the first African nation to qualify for the knockout stages in 1986, when they reached the Round of 16 in Mexico. Now, nearly 40 years later, they are still trailblazers.
Why Morocco Wants to Stay Unbeaten
Some might wonder — why does Morocco care about beating Zambia if they’re already qualified? The answer is simple: momentum and respect.
Momentum: Winning all their games keeps the team confident heading into the World Cup. No one wants to go into a huge tournament with losses on their record.
Respect: Morocco wants to show Africa and the world that they’re not just lucky qualifiers — they’re one of the top soccer nations.
Player Competition: Resting stars gives new players a chance to prove themselves. If a backup defender or forward performs well against Zambia, Regragui will have more options when building his World Cup squad.
Also, Morocco’s fan base has grown massively since 2022. Staying unbeaten in qualifying would make their supporters even prouder.
Soccer Facts and News Combo
To make this even more exciting, let’s connect some soccer facts and news:
Morocco’s world ranking: As of 2025, Morocco is ranked in the top 15 in FIFA rankings, the highest in Africa.
Star players: Apart from Hakimi, Morocco boasts stars like Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United), Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray, formerly Chelsea), and Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla striker).
Zambia’s history: Zambia has never qualified for a World Cup, but they are famous for winning the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, an emotional triumph dedicated to the players who died in the 1993 plane crash off the coast of Gabon.
World Cup expansion: With 48 teams in 2026, it will be the biggest World Cup ever. More African teams than ever before will get the chance to shine.
Final Thoughts
Morocco might already be in the World Cup, but they’re not taking their foot off the gas. Coach Walid Regragui wants his Atlas Lions to finish the job unbeaten, and their clash with Zambia is the next step in proving they’re not just a one-hit wonder from Qatar 2022, but a consistent powerhouse.
For Zambia, the match is about pride and keeping alive their dream of reaching a playoff. With experienced coach Avram Grant leading them, they’ll look to upset the African giants.
Either way, fans can expect a passionate and intense game. Morocco is already roaring, but Zambia has every reason to fight. That’s the magic of World Cup qualifiers — even when one team is already through, every match carries weight, drama, and history.
