2026 World Cup: Vieira names team to cause surprise as Round of 32 looms

Former France midfielder, Patrick Vieira, has predicted that Morocco can “cause a surprise” and reach the latter stages of this World Cup.

At the 2022 edition, the Atlas Lions became the first country from Africa to reach the semi-final.

They lost to France, who themselves finished as runners-up.

Morocco has qualified for the Round of 32 at the ongoing tournament and will face Group F winners, the Netherlands.

“I think Morocco can be the team that can cause a surprise and I think they have enough individual quality to be in the last eight,” Vieira told The Rest Is Football podcast.

“But outside of Morocco, I think it will be difficult for all the other (smaller) nations to go through and get to the last four.”