- Achraf Hakimi has backed Morocco to make strong World Cup statement against Brazil.
- The highly anticipated clash, set to kick off at 1:00 a.m. EAT, on Sunday june 14.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has expressed confidence in the Atlas Lions’ ability to secure a positive result against Brazil when the two sides face off in their opening Group C match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday morning.
The highly anticipated clash, set to kick off at 1:00 a.m. EAT, will see Morocco begin their campaign against one of the tournament favourites in a group that also features Haiti and Scotland.
Having become the first African nation to reach the FIFA World Cup semi-finals during the 2022 tournament in Qatar, Morocco arrive in North America carrying the hopes of an entire continent.
Despite the magnitude of the challenge awaiting them against five-time world champions Brazil, Hakimi believes his side is fully prepared for the occasion.
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Hakimi backs Morocco to make strong World Cup statement against Brazil
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back was asked about the prospect of facing Brazil star Vinicius Junior and acknowledged the threat posed by the Real Madrid winger and his teammates.
“I think everyone knows the Brazilian national team, we know Vinicius’ qualities. I’ve already played against him many times and he’s a great player. To defend against Vinicius and the other Brazilian players, who are all top-level, you have to defend as a team, with clear ideas.
“I believe that we have trained and prepared for this kind of match. I think the team is ready. Personally, I feel ready and I have the confidence needed to play a great match and deliver a great performance.”
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The encounter is expected to be one of the standout fixtures of the opening round, with Morocco looking to prove that their historic run in Qatar was no fluke. While Brazil remain one of the most successful nations in World Cup history, Hakimi insists Morocco have enough quality to compete on equal terms.
“As I have already said, we know well the opponent we will face tomorrow,” he said.
“We know Brazil, its history, the quality of its players. But we also have quality. In Africa, they call us the ‘Brazilians of Africa.’ We are talented players and we have our strengths.
“I believe we are ready to do something important, with confidence and with the support of all Moroccans. I think we can have a great World Cup and start well already tomorrow.”
Morocco’s impressive blend of experienced stars and emerging talent has made them one of the continent’s strongest representatives heading into the tournament.
With Hakimi leading from the back, the North Africans will be aiming to begin their campaign with a statement performance against the Selecao.
Despite widespread expectations and memories of Morocco’s remarkable 2022 achievement, Hakimi remains focused solely on the task at hand rather than discussing another deep run in the competition.
“We are completely focused on the first match, on tomorrow. We want to start in the best possible way. Then we will think match by match, trying to go as far as possible and do better than at the last World Cup. But right now we are only thinking about tomorrow, about delivering the best possible performance and winning the match, which is what we want.”
