2026 World Cup: Luis de la Fuente places Morocco among the favorites

A few months before the kick-off of the World Cup to be held in Canada, the United States and Mexico, the Spanish technician displays unwavering confidence. When asked about his team’s chances, he assured that the Roja has the means to achieve its ambitions: "Yes, we can become world champions - we can, and we will fight for it".

However, De la Fuente remains lucid about the magnitude of the task, describing the upcoming tournament as extremely difficult. He points to fierce competition, citing a short list of title contenders that includes traditional powers like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France and Portugal, as well as Morocco. For him, "no other World Cup has seen such a diversity of competitive teams", even mentioning the progress of nations like Cape Verde.

The Spanish coach has reserved special mention for the Atlas Lions, emphasizing the excellence of their pool of talent. He particularly praised the Moroccan dynamic, driven by the recent title of U20 world champions. According to him, Morocco has a "remarkable group" of players who play in excellent leagues and are now "among the best footballers" in the world.