Morocco continues to earn global recognition ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, and the latest praise comes from Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro.
Speaking before a friendly match, the South American manager highlighted the rapid rise of the Atlas Lions, who have built strong credibility since their historic run at the 2022 World Cup.
With a talented generation led by Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz, Morocco has also impressed through consistent performances, including its recent AFCON 2025 campaign.
Alfaro did not hold back in his admiration, describing Morocco as a serious contender on the world stage. “They are a serious contender. There is constant progress in Moroccan football, and this is reflected in the performances of their national team. For me, they are a serious contender to win this World Cup, and even more so for the next one,” he stated. These words reflect the growing respect Morocco commands across continents.
The Paraguayan coach went even further by using Morocco as a benchmark for his own team. “Morocco is a great mirror in which we need to see ourselves. They were the revelation of the last World Cup, they’re an intense team, very physically aggressive, they have quality, their players play in top leagues,” he explained. As Morocco prepares for its final tests before the tournament, such strong praise only reinforces its status as one of the teams to watch this summer.