"FIFA": Morocco is no longer a surprise team.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has dedicated a special report to discuss the anticipated match between the Moroccan national team and its Brazilian counterpart, as part of the first round of the 2026 World Cup, confirming that this global summit comes under completely different circumstances than the last encounter between the two teams in the World Cup 28 years ago.

The report added that the match between Morocco and Brazil carries a lot of symbolism, as the status of the "Atlas Lions" has changed significantly since the 1998 World Cup in France, with the Moroccan national team becoming one of the most prominent rising teams on the international stage, especially after its historic achievement in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when it reached the semi-finals as the first African team to achieve this feat.

FIFA pointed out that the match at New York New Jersey brings together a Brazilian team with a rich history of five World Cup titles and a Moroccan team that has gained great respect after its results against major global teams.

The report emphasized that the match cannot be reduced to a comparison of history or names, as Morocco has become a competitor capable of keeping pace with the strongest teams, which was confirmed by captain Achraf Hakimi, who considered the encounter to be largely balanced, with small details deciding the outcome.

FIFA highlighted the statements of Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, who praised the significant development of Moroccan football, confirming that the "Atlas Lions" are now capable of competing with any team in the world.

The same source added that the last encounter between the two teams in the World Cup dates back to the 1998 edition in France, when Brazil won 3-0, but the situation has changed significantly now, as Morocco has managed to establish itself among the elite of the game, even achieving its first victory in history over the "Seleção" during a friendly match in 2023.

FIFA concluded its report by affirming that the match between Morocco and Brazil is one of the most prominent encounters in the first round of the 2026 World Cup, due to the clash between a great Brazilian history and a renewed Moroccan ambition to write a new chapter in World Cup history.