Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes his side can surpass their historic 2022 World Cup run after earning a confidence-boosting 1-1 draw against Brazil.

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes his side can go even further than their historic 2022 World Cup campaign after opening the 2026 tournament with an impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil on Saturday.

The Atlas Lions arrived at the World Cup determined to prove that their remarkable run to the semi-finals in Qatar was no fluke.

Before facing Brazil, Ouahbi had spoken about shedding Morocco’s underdog label and embracing the expectations that now surround the team.

Morocco backed up those ambitions with a confident display against the five-time world champions at a packed New York-New Jersey Stadium. Despite being outnumbered in the stands, the North African side produced a performance that earned widespread praise.

Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the lead in the first half after capitalising on a strong attacking move, while Brazil responded through Vinicius Junior, who levelled the scores in the 32nd minute.

A thrilling draw. 🤩#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 14, 2026

Ouahbi was particularly pleased with his team’s courage in possession and their willingness to play under pressure against one of the strongest sides in international football. He highlighted that mentality as a key reason for optimism moving forward.

The Morocco boss also praised the impact of his substitutions, noting that fresh legs helped maintain the team’s intensity during a physically demanding encounter. As the game wore on and mistakes began to creep in, Morocco continued to compete aggressively and confidently.

Ouahbi reserved special praise for the Moroccan supporters who made themselves heard throughout the stadium. Although they were in the minority, their passionate backing created an atmosphere that made it feel as though Morocco were playing in front of a much larger home crowd.

While satisfied with the draw, Ouahbi made it clear that his ambitions extend beyond simply matching Morocco’s achievements from four years ago.

With one point on the board after their opening match, he believes the team has the quality and confidence to challenge for an even deeper run in the tournament. “I want to go beyond the semi-finals,” he said. “A draw is a good result, but we will continue to improve and aim for more.”

Scotland top Group C 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 14, 2026