Africa will win the World Cup “within 15-20 years,” according to Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui. The Atlas Lions were the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final, where they were first defeated by eventual runners-up France, and later by Croatia, who pipped them to third place.
The 47-year-old coach believes that Africa will benefit from having more than five representatives for the first time starting in 2026.
“At the next World Cup, we’ll have nine spots which will allow us to learn more,” Regragui said.
“Within 15-20 years, I’m convinced an African team will win the World Cup. Because we’ll come back each time and learn more, and so our youngsters will have World Cup football in their DNA.”
Since 1994, Africa has had five teams in the finals. However, Africa’s total will nearly double for 2026 and might reach ten if one of its teams makes it through an intercontinental World Cup play-off to determine the final representatives.
The continent’s teams have frequently struggled to reach the knockout round, failing to send any team through in 2018 and always delivering one since the 1994 expansion, with the exception of 2014 and 2022, when two teams advanced.
“Our problem as African teams, without being too critical, is that we only have five spots, so that means Egypt couldn’t participate this time, nor could Nigeria, South Africa, Mali etc,” said the former Morocco international.
“So, each time, because we’re pitted against each other (to qualify), it’s more complicated (to build World Cup experience).”
Following Saturday’s third-place play-off loss to Croatia, who has now finished on the podium in half of the six World Cups they’ve competed in, Regragui said their consistent presence helps to explain their incredible record.
“Why are European teams always (in the World Cup’s latter stages)? Why did Croatia defeat us and come in third place? They always qualify for the World Cup since they have more experience at this level.
“From competing in every World Cup, and playing these types of matches, again and again, they let you learn, young players learn. It allows your guys to return stronger the next time.”
Morocco returned this year to register back-to-back tournaments for the first time since 1994-1998, following a creditable performance at the 2018 World Cup, their first in 20 years.
Morocco made incredible progress in Qatar despite facing three of the world’s top-ranked teams: Belgium (2), Spain (7), and Portugal (9), as well as holding Croatia, the 2018 runners-up, in the group stage.
“We’ve earned years’ worth of experience when you have the opportunity to play Croatia twice in a tournament, who are a top-three team in the world,” Morocco’s coach added.
“To play Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium and Canada, it’s extraordinary – all big games.”
Morocco fell apart after surrendering just one goal in their first five matches in Qatar, losing 2-0 to France in the semi-finals on Wednesday before falling 2-1 to Croatia on Saturday.
Despite his disappointment at failing to become the first African team to reach a final or place third, Regragui believes the magnitude of his team’s accomplishments will become clear soon.
