World Cup 2026: Morocco defender Mazraoui relishing the prospect of facing Man United teammate Matheus Cunha

Morocco international Noussair Mazraoui is looking ahead to a special on-field reunion with Manchester United teammate Matheus Cunha at the 2026 World Cup.

The encounter between Morocco and Brazil is already shaping up to be one of the standout fixtures of the tournament, not least because of the added storyline of club teammates facing off on football’s biggest stage.

Mazraoui, who is among 13 players from Manchester United expected to feature at the tournament, admitted there has already been light-hearted discussion within camps about the upcoming showdown, particularly his duel with Cunha on the flanks.

He acknowledged that the match could bring direct 1v1 battles, depending on tactical setups, but insisted the moment is one to enjoy rather than fear.

“When you have time, we talk about the club, everything. This subject as well, especially [with] Cunha, because he’s probably going to play left or right winger, [if he’s] on my [side], then [it’s] 1v1, so it’s going to be fun,” Mazraoui said.

Beyond the personal rivalry, the Moroccan defender also highlighted the broader expectations surrounding his national team. Morocco’s recent progress on the international stage has raised standards significantly, and Mazraoui believes the squad is now expected to deliver consistently at the highest level.

“I think we’ve been doing really good on an international level as well as in Africa itself. So yeah, expectations are much higher than they were four years ago because we’ve reached that and because we’ve done pretty well the last four or five years,” he added.

He stressed that the challenge for Morocco now is to maintain that level and prove their achievements are built on sustained quality rather than isolated success.

“So yeah, the expectations are bigger and it’s up to us to handle that kind of pressure and to show again that you can do the same thing that you did four years ago, and it’s not just luck and it’s going to be like a constant level. I think that’s our biggest ambition for us,” Mazraoui concluded.

As the World Cup approaches, Morocco’s blend of experienced European-based players and growing confidence makes them one of Africa’s most intriguing sides. With high expectations and a challenging group ahead, Mazraoui and his teammates will be aiming to once again prove their credentials on the global stage—starting with a high-profile clash against Brazil.