Brazil stands out as the only nation to have participated in all 22 editions of the FIFA World Cup. However, the recent performances of the Brazilian national team have raised eyebrows, particularly as they have faced early exits in four of the last five tournaments, with the notable exception of the 2014 World Cup held on home soil, where they reached the semifinals only to suffer a staggering defeat of 1-7 against Germany. This cycle of results continued into the recent qualifying campaign, where under the management of Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil recorded their lowest total of points ever, amassing just 28 points. This disappointing tally contrasts sharply with the previous low of 30 points achieved before the 2002 World Cup, a year when they ultimately lifted the trophy for the last time.
On the other hand, Morocco has seen a remarkable rise in their footballing fortunes, particularly highlighted by their impressive performance at the last World Cup in Qatar, where they reached the semifinals but were defeated 0-2 by France. Additionally, the Moroccan squad, known as the 'Lions of the Atlas,' has remained unbeaten in their last five friendly matches leading up to the tournament, a streak that began under the guidance of coach Walid Regragui. Notably, Regragui's predecessor, Mohamed Ouahbi, had an extraordinary tenure, leading the Moroccan U20 team to a World Championship title in October 2025, showcasing the potential and talent emerging from Moroccan football.
As reported by tvspielfilm.de.
