World Cup 2026: “We are ready for any opponent” – Morocco coach Ouahbi confident ahead of Round of 32

Morocco coach Mohammed Ouahbi has declared his outfit are prepared for any opponent in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Atlas Lions defeated Haiti 4-2 to finish second in Group C, earning the team a place in the round 32 of the global showpiece.

Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Ouahbi declared his outfit readiness to face any opposition in the round 32 of the biggest soccer mundial.

“There is no preference for any team. We will prepare ourselves appropriately. Sweden is a strong team, Japan is a team with a lot of experience, and Mexico is also a strong team,” he said.

“We will prepare well, and whoever the opponent is that we will face, we will be ready for him.”

Reflecting on his outfit victory over Haiti, Ouahbi said, “We knew that this team had nothing to lose, and that they would do everything to score,”

Despite moments of pressure, the coach insisted Morocco remained firmly in control for most of the contest, limiting their opponents to very few chances.

“We faced some difficulties, but they only had two shots on our goal, while we were completely in control of the game. I don’t think the Moroccan national team has ever controlled the World Cup like this before, and don’t forget that we are talking about the World Cup,” Wahbi said.

Morocco entered the tournament with ambitions of topping their group, but ultimately finished second. Wahbi admitted the target was not fully achieved but accepted the outcome as part of the competition.

“We wanted to finish the group stage in first place, but we finished second, and I will accept that anyway,” he added.

The Atlas Lions created several clear scoring opportunities throughout the match, particularly in the first half, but had to adjust tactically after the break to improve efficiency and game management.

“We had many opportunities in the first half, and the performance improved in the second half. I asked the players to make some tactical changes, which helped us to perform better,” he said.

Morocco eventually converted their dominance into goals, with Wahbi highlighting the importance of confidence and attacking intent within the squad.

“Scoring goals is a positive thing for the team, and everyone was happy about that. Confidence is always required, and we had a clear desire to score, so I am not worried about that,” he noted.

Morocco now shift their attention to the Round of 32, where expectations will rise and the level of competition will intensify as they continue their World Cup campaign.