There was still a slim hope for Morocco, but the Atlas Lions will appear in the second hat of the draw for the 2026 World Cup, which will be made next Friday, December 5 (6 p.m. in France). Best African nation in the World Ranking, occupying 12th place, the team led by Walid Regragui is therefore not part of the nine best selections which will accompany the three host countries, Canada, Mexico and the United States, among the top seeds.
Germany’s 6-0 victory against Slovakia on Monday evening, for direct qualification for the Mannschaft, ensures that Julian Nagelsmann’s squad is part of the first hat. The Germans scared themselves during this elimination phase and were for a time “projected” into hat 2! Nick Woltemade and his teammates did well to string together five victories to finish.
Like Morocco, Croatia is overtaken by Germany at the end of the qualifiers. And yes, the slightest victory counts for the Fifa World Ranking. Luka Modric and his teammates will be the first team in Pot 2 in the draw in two weeks. Spain and Belgium are not officially qualified but only very heavy defeats (respectively against Turkey and Liechtenstein) would deprive them of first place in their respective groups.
Morocco against France and Norway?
By appearing in hat 2, Morocco at least has the advantage of avoiding, in addition to the Italians if they win their play-off, Colombia, Uruguay, Japan, Senegal, Iran and South Korea, while awaiting the qualifications of Switzerland, Denmark and Austria.
Nayef Aguerd, Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz and Hamza Igamane cannot draw an African selection in hats 3 and 4, which gives them great potential opponents like Erling Haaland’s Norway, Willian Pacho’s Ecuador or Arda Güler’s Turkey. Only European teams can find themselves two in the same group. Morocco can therefore very well inherit a group of death with Spain or France as well as the formidable Norwegians.
