World Cup 2026: Is Saudi Arabia's group the toughest? Morocco's hunger and bold predictions
6 December 2025
The Toughest Group in 2026
Mustafa Haji, a Morocco legend, says Saudi Arabia's group is the toughest in the 2026 World Cup set for the United States, Canada, and Mexico today.
The 2026 World Cup draw, held in the United States, placed Saudi Arabia in Group 8 with Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.
In a TV interview reacting to the draw, Haji said, 'To be honest, I would choose Saudi Arabia's group as the toughest in 2026 World Cup'.
He added: 'The group includes Spain, and Cape Verde, which is a very strong side in Africa, and Uruguay, also one of the big teams'.
This group is toughest; Saudi Arabia isn't lucky to be in this, really.
Morocco's Group and the Hunger Call
Separately, Haji refused to discuss Morocco's perceived ease, insisting the Atlas Lions must compete as fiercely as they did in 2022.
The draw also placed Morocco in Group C with Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
Haji said, 'Morocco must play with hunger, because the World Cup is not easy, even if they performed well in Qatar; things change'.
He added: 'The other teams are watching Morocco now; it's different. When you go to the World Cup and the big teams face the smaller ones, they don't care much and don't prepare well'.
And finally: 'Now that Morocco has achieved what it did in Qatar, all the teams will be watching; it will be tougher, so they must return hungry to win'.
It is worth noting that Morocco achieved a unique Arab-African feat in 2022 in Qatar, reaching the semifinals before losing to France and Croatia, finishing fourth; punchline: coffee before kickoff.
