Kroos bets on Morocco for World Cup 2026 and doubts Germany’s chances

World Cup 2026: Morocco rises as a contender, Germany faces a tricky path

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has named the likely contenders for the 2026 World Cup and looked back on his memories from 2014. In an interview with Romário, reported by AS, Kroos recalled his long-standing ties with Brazilian players at Madrid—Vinícius Júnior, Casemiro, Militao—and explained how their carefree lifestyle contrasts with that of the Germans. He emphasized that off-field harmony matters just as much as on-field form.

“I’ve always had a good relationship with Brazilians since childhood. In Madrid with Vinícius, Casemiro, Militao… the bond was always strong. They enjoy life and have a very different lifestyle from the Germans,” Kroos said.

He added: “Playing with Casemiro and Vinícius was easy because I understood them perfectly. I had a strong connection with Vinícius, and I got on well with them outside the pitch as well. If your relationship off the field isn’t good, it’s hard to perform well on it. I benefited from Vinícius’ movement without the ball, and he benefited from my passes.”

On the World Cup outlook, Kroos identified Spain, Portugal, France, and Morocco as the main contenders. He didn’t explicitly mention Brazil, but left room for them to be considered. He argued for keeping the number of teams stable to protect players and maintain tournament quality, rather than expanding the field just for the sake of diversification.

He warned that a larger format could lead to blowouts and more matches with little suspense, potentially hurting the event’s prestige. “We’ll see more lopsided games and a larger knockout phase, which isn’t what fans want. The priority is the quality of the games; I don’t enjoy 5-0 or 6-0 results,” Kroos noted, adding that fatigue and a heavier schedule could undermine the competition’s intensity.

When asked about Neymar, Kroos replied: “The big question is when he will be at 100% again. That has been the central issue in recent years due to injuries and disrupted rhythm. I’m not close to him personally, but he’s dealing with another injury now, and there are about six months to the World Cup. If he’s fit, he can help any team in the world.”

Regarding Germany’s chances, Kroos said: “Germany is always there, but I don’t see them among the top favorites. I’m sure they’ll reach the quarterfinals or semifinals, but they’re currently at a slightly lower level, though everything remains possible in a one-off match.”

To end his reflection, Kroos recalled the historic 7-1 victory against Brazil in 2014, saying: “I carry only fond memories of 2014; our time in Brazil was wonderful. The day of the match was very hard for Brazilians, but their reaction afterward was incredibly positive despite the defeat. They even urged us to beat Argentina in the final. I was lucky to play big games, and that match ranks among the top five of my career. We couldn’t quite believe what was happening, and I felt sorry for my teammates.”

Punchline time (sniper-style lightly): If precision were a weapon, Kroos would be a sniper with a football; his passes arrive so perfectly that GPS asks for his route. And if World Cup glory were a dessert, Morocco might steal the slice while Germany calmly requests extra time to finish their tea.