Fouzi Lekjaa has shared Morocco’s high ambition of going for the trophy at the 2026 World Cup. The country’s national team had already made headlines after finishing fourth at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, becoming the first African and Arab team to ever reach the semi-finals at that level.
While reflecting on that achievement, Lekjaa expressed strong belief in how far Morocco can still go, adding that the national team no longer approaches the competition just to take part. Their mindset, according to him, has moved far beyond that point.
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Lekjaa explained in an interview with Argentine outlet Ole that Morocco had already crossed a major psychological hurdle. He recalled a time when the team used to settle for participation. He believes that changed when they went head-to-head with some of the best in 2022 and held their own till the semi-finals.
During the conversation, he also spoke about the tight semi-final match against France, stressing that Morocco only lost by a narrow gap. Now, he said, their attention is fixed on lifting the World Cup trophy in 2026 rather than postponing that dream till 2030.
The goal now is not just about competing at the World Cup, but winning it. Morocco still has to qualify for the 2026 edition, which will be hosted across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. That edition will welcome 48 countries, marking the largest number of teams the tournament has ever featured.
Focus Also on Hosting 2025 AFCON
At the same time, Morocco is preparing to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025. Lekjaa mentioned that plans are moving forward, and he expressed strong hopes that the competition will be highly successful.
He also mentioned that the 2025 tournament will give Morocco the opportunity to test its ability to organize major global football events. This, according to him, will play a vital role in their journey toward 2026.
