Morocco U-17 coach Thiago Lima declares readiness for 2026 World Cup

Morocco U-17 coach Thiago Lima Pereira insists his outfit will approach the 2026 World Cup with ambition and determination as the team seeks to make a meaningful impact at the tournament to be staged in Qatar.

The Young Atlas Lions has been paired in a competitive Group H against Spain, China, and Fiji, with the tournament scheduled for November 19 to December 13, 2026.

Speaking after the tournament draw, the Moroccan tactician stressed that the Atlas Lions are not expecting an easy path in the global competition and will approach every fixture with maximum focus and respect.

“When we go to a tournament like the World Cup, we must be prepared to face all the teams,” Thiago Lima Pereira said. “We don’t expect an easy tournament or easy matches, and we will try to face every team with the best possible performance.”

Morocco’s placement in Group H has already generated excitement, particularly because of the clash against European powerhouse Spain national under-17 football team, widely regarded as the favourites in the group. However, the Moroccan coach made it clear that his team will not underestimate any opponent.

“We know that there is a team considered a strong favourite in the group, namely Spain, but we don’t consider the other competitors to be weaker than us,” he explained. “We will play all matches in the same way, respecting all opponents and striving to qualify.”

The coach also outlined Morocco’s objectives for the tournament, revealing that qualification for the knockout stages is the immediate target, while topping the group remains a major ambition for the North African side.

“Our first step is to qualify for the next round, but we will also try to top the group,” he said. “That’s our mentality; we want to have a great tournament, so we’ll take it one game at a time and try to win every match.”

The Moroccan U-17 side earned qualification for the World Cup after an impressive run at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, where they reached the quarterfinals of the continental competition hosted in Morocco.

The upcoming tournament in Qatar represents another opportunity for Morocco’s youth football project to showcase its rapid development on the international stage. In recent years, Moroccan football has enjoyed significant progress across various age categories, with strong investment in youth development and infrastructure helping produce talented young players capable of competing globally.

With confidence growing within the camp, Thiago Lima Pereira and his players will now intensify preparations as they aim to make a strong statement at the FIFA U-17 World Cup and continue Morocco’s rising reputation in international football.