Morocco may have taken a significant step towards the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but head coach Mohamed Ouahbi is refusing to get carried away.
The Atlas Lions strengthened their position in Group H with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Scotland, following their opening draw against Brazil. The result leaves Morocco on four points from two matches and in a strong position heading into their final group game against Haiti.
Yet while supporters may already be calculating qualification scenarios, Ouahbi made it clear after the Scotland victory that his team’s work is far from complete.
“We have four points. We still have one match. We’re not sure we’re qualified yet,” the Morocco coach told reporters.
“So, the objective is to qualify. Of course, we want to win this match against Haiti.”
The coach repeatedly returned to that message throughout his post-match press conference, refusing to discuss potential knockout-stage opponents or any plans beyond the final group fixture.
Instead, his focus remained firmly on securing the result Morocco need to guarantee their progress.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi insists his side are not yet through to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite a crucial 1-0 victory over Scotland and four points from their opening two matches.
Morocco impressed for long spells against Scotland, controlling possession and creating the better chances before eventually holding firm against late pressure from Steve Clarke’s side.
The narrow scoreline, however, served as a reminder to Ouahbi that nothing can be taken for granted at a World Cup.
Reflecting on the challenge of navigating the group stage, he stressed that every opponent presents different problems.
“When you play in the World Cup, all the matches are complicated,” he said.
“That’s also the charm of the World Cup. You face opponents who pose you different problems, different styles.”
That mindset appears to be shaping Morocco’s approach as they prepare for Haiti, a side Ouahbi believes deserves full respect despite entering the final round of matches as underdogs.
READMORE: EXPLAINER: Ronaldo covered his mouth too – so why was Miguel Almirón sent off?
One of the biggest questions facing the Morocco coach was whether qualification prospects could lead to squad rotation against Haiti.
Ouahbi dismissed the idea that he would make changes simply for the sake of resting players.
“The goal is not to qualify. The goal is to win the next match, to qualify and, if possible, be first,” he said.
“I will put the best team possible depending on the context, depending on the opponent, depending on the freshness of the players.”
The coach also stressed that any selection decisions would be based on what gives Morocco the greatest chance of victory rather than rewarding squad members with minutes.
“If I decide to put another player, it’s not because I want to please this player,” he explained.
“I really want to put the best team and it will be the one that will be closest and able to bring us this victory that we are looking for against Haiti.”
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
While Ouahbi is keeping expectations in check, there are signs that Morocco are growing into the tournament.
The coach expressed satisfaction with the performance against Scotland, arguing that his side showed improvement compared to the draw against Brazil.
He was particularly encouraged by the team’s attacking intentions and ability to remain composed under pressure late in the game.
