Yassine Bounou says Morocco’s sense of belief key for World Cup campaign

[p]The Atlas Lions will [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/morocco-IDKYO3R8/?mid=b5JayTEd"]face Brazil in their opener at MetLife Stadium[/a]. Apart from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a], [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a][/b], who have been pooled in Group C, will also face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/haiti/nk4v10Z1/"]Haiti[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/fZRU25WH/"]Scotland[/a].[/p][p]Morocco have qualified for the World Cup finals on seven occasions, which were in 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018, 2022 and 2026.[/p][p][b]Their best performance was in 2022, when they finished in fourth place, thus becoming both the first African and Arab nation to reach a semi-final at a World Cup.[/b][/p][p]During the 2022 edition, Morocco produced the greatest run by an African team in World Cup history. They defeated Belgium, Spain, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] to reach the semi-finals, ultimately finishing in fourth place.[/p][h2]Morocco quality still there[/h2][p]Ahead of their return to the 2026 edition, the experienced [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bono-bounou-yassine/ne0lafKc/"]Bounou[/a], who will lead from the front, is confident the Atlas Lions will have a good run.[/p][p][b]"The quality of the players is still there,"[/b] Bounou told [a href="https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/yassine-bounou-morocco-interview"]FIFA.com[/a]. "[b]The right mindset will also be there because it’s a World Cup, and every player dreams of playing in it.[/b][/p][p]"For some, this might be the last one. For others, it will be their first time."[/p][embed guid="7e9620f8-4682-4611-828d-d630376698c4" url="https://x.com/EnMaroc/status/2063353655357485163" social-type="twitter" /][p]On whether Morocco has the chance to win the World Cup, Bounou said: [b]"Let’s be honest: there are teams that are bigger favourites than us.[/b][/p][p][b]"We, for our part, have been on this path of progress since 2022, so let’s try to carry that on. After that, there’s no telling how far we might go."[/b][/p][p]Bounou added: [b]"We feel that we’re still respected, and that must give us confidence. I think there’s a sense of belief that we perhaps didn’t feel before, as an African team."[/b][/p][h2]Morocco determined to make history[/h2][p]Revisiting the 2022 edition in Qatar, Bounou, who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, said: [b]"[/b][b]In 2022, the atmosphere was indeed incredible. We were all determined to make our mark on the history of Moroccan and African football."[/b][/p][p]Bounou has not let up in the slightest. In his last 37 appearances for the national team, the Al Hilal man has picked the ball out of the net just 14 times, at an average of 0.37 goals per game.[/p][p][b]"I’m probably a little better prepared mentally, thanks to my experience. My main goal is to approach the competition with a real sense of enjoyment, to give it my all, and above all, to have no regrets,"[/b] offered the former Sevilla custodian.[/p][image alt="Morocco's upcoming matches" id="89da725e-d973-4306-9b73-da434cc125bf" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="1f314a68-7d83-428e-9e4f-befce4c93645" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Bounou concluded: [b]"At the 2026 World Cup, Morocco will make their mark on world football, once again.[/b][/p][p][b]"I’m sure the Moroccan people will be proud of and pleased with the team. Let’s hope we can pull off something really, really big again, just like we did in 2022."[/b][/p][p]Morocco made their first appearance on the global stage at the 1970 Mexico World Cup. While they exited in the group stage, they earned a highly respectable 1-1 draw against Bulgaria and proved they could compete against established footballing nations.[/p][p]After playing Brazil, Morocco will take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/morocco-IDKYO3R8/scotland-fZRU25WH/?mid=nRafcAyG"]Scotland at Boston Stadium on June 20th[/a] before winding up group matches against Haiti at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/haiti-nk4v10Z1/morocco-IDKYO3R8/?mid=n7TsyKKD"]Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 25th[/a].[/p][image alt="Author" id="009ee08a-c012-41bf-bdae-acba9770ea19" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="124b89e8-6816-46f5-9f74-47d16b26ea9d" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]