26 appearances, 14 goals—Morocco's attacking talisman Brahim Diaz is finally set to fulfill a childhood dream at the World Cup. At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Real Madrid player born in Malaga, who chose to represent the Atlas Lions rather than Spain, will make the most important international debut of his life. First opponent? Brazil, ranked sixth by FIFA—Morocco are eighth, and on paper there is a gap in quality, but the side that toppled giants and marched all the way to the semi-finals in 2022 has never been afraid to talk big.
A rollercoaster club season—and his resurgence has come at just the right time
To call Brahim's season at the Bernabeu "steady" would be polite. Before and after the managerial change, his place in the pecking order and tactical role swung back and forth several times; what truly helped him rediscover his rhythm was the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year—a trip those close to him described as a "breather." Back in Madrid, he seized more minutes amid intensifying competition within the squad and gradually nailed down a starting spot. The numbers show Real Madrid's attacking output in several recent tough fixtures has been anything but modest: 20 shots in one game and 51% possession to draw with their opponents; 25 shots and 60% possession in another; 12 shots with eight on target in a third—results were all draws, but the attacking firepower and passing accuracy (86%-91%) suggest he can now keep getting on the ball and creating danger in high-pressure environments. Eliminating Manchester City in the Champions League and beating Atletico Madrid in the derby were the direct proof of this resurgence.
National team changed managers but not the core; fitness is their biggest source of confidence
Morocco is turning the page as well. Walid Regragui stepped down voluntarily, saying Moroccan football “needs a fresh start”; Mohamed Wahabbi—an Anderlecht academy product who joined Morocco’s youth setup in 2022 and took charge of the U23s in 2025, with his promotion accelerated by Regragui’s departure—inherits a straightforward brief: keep building on what has already been achieved. Brahim’s role has not changed; he remains the leader in the dressing room. According to information we have, he rejoined the squad after his club season ended in the best physical and mental shape he has been in recently, and the confidence he has shown in training dovetails neatly with the “make the whole nation dream” narrative from the 2014 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and the run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.
Opening clash with Brazil: hype at fever pitch, test just as intense
On social media, Brahim’s decision to “choose Morocco over Spain” is still debated by young fans—some say he took a risk, but more admire him for staking his World Cup debut on the country he truly wanted to represent. For Morocco, facing Brazil in the opener is both a stage to announce themselves to the world and a true litmus test: whether they can carry the momentum of their Africa Cup of Nations title—that crown, though officially confirmed only months later due to scheduling disputes, eventually sat in Morocco’s trophy cabinet—into the 2026 World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico hinges on whether they can recreate that 2022 outsider edge in the first game. Brahim’s ambition is written all over his face: more minutes, more goals, more titles—World Cup, national team, club—he wants them all. Every touch from here on is a love letter from the Malaga boy to all of North Africa.
