The lineup of the "Atlas Lions" is amazing.

The retired Moroccan star Nourredine Naybet, the player with the most appearances for the national team, expressed his optimism about the journey of the "Atlas Lions" in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, starting next Thursday.

Naybet said in an interview on the official website of FIFA: "Participating in the World Cup is the pinnacle of any football player's career. It is bigger than the Champions League; it is the peak of what any player and any team can achieve. It is something completely different."

The captain of Morocco in the 1998 World Cup added: "Every child dreams of participating in the World Cup. I enjoyed participating in the 1994 World Cup in the United States so much, and it is hard to describe that. It was my first participation, and I have wonderful memories of it that I will never forget."

Regarding Morocco's chances in the 2026 World Cup, Naybet said: "We have a high-quality team with world-class players and a fantastic squad that possesses talent and depth in all lines." He added: "We have to treat each match individually. Although we are not among the favorites on paper, we believe in our ability to pose a real threat, and we can dream of going far with the quality we have." He concluded his remarks by asking: "Who said we can't win the World Cup?"

Nourredine Naybet has been retired from football for two decades, but his record of 115 international matches with the Moroccan national team remains a record, while Achraf Hakimi, the captain of the current generation, comes in second place behind him.

The Moroccan national team was the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, finishing fourth in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after losing to Croatia in the match for the bronze medal.

The "Atlas Lions" will begin their journey in this year's World Cup with a strong match against Brazil, as part of Group C, which also includes Scotland and Haiti.