Atlas Lions ready to fight as France showdown approaches

Morocco’s Atlas Lions are gearing up for a high‑profile quarter‑final duel with France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their journey so far includes a convincing 3‑0 victory over Canada and a dramatic penalty shoot‑out win against the Netherlands.

Midfielder Brahim Diaz told the media, “Facing a favourite like France is a big test, but we are here because we can match them. We are now part of the group of potential winners and we will leave nothing behind.”

Diaz, who has already contributed four assists, will likely see his attacking duties increase after Bayern Munich’s Ismail Sarr was ruled out with injury. He described himself as a player who steps up when the stakes are high and said he feels confident ahead of the fixture.

He will oppose his Real Madrid teammates Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni on the field, but emphasized that the friendship will be set aside for the competition. Diaz also praised captain Achraf Hakimi, calling him the best right‑back in the world, and expressed absolute faith in Morocco’s unity and fighting spirit.