As part of a special World Cup series, The Athletic is speaking to fans of all 48 competing nations to capture their unique football culture

Brazil head into Group C as favourites, with Neymar back for another World Cup run. Morocco, Scotland and Haiti ensure the section looks far less straightforward than expected.

Supporters turned on the team and, although they reached the final, failure to win a controversy-filled decider against Senegal led to Walid Regragui quitting as coach, no longer willing to

Perennial World Cup favourites Brazil start the 2026 edition with the same pressure. Their opening game against 2022 semifinalists Morocco is one of the matches of the Group phase.

For a while, dual-national footballers were a rarity in the Moroccan national team, but today they account for the majority of players across age groups and have become the Atlas Lions’ greatest

Legal disputes and acrimony have replaced the accolades and euphoria for Morocco’s national soccer team ahead of this year’s World Cup. Morocco became embroiled in controversy after hosting

Welcome to The Athletic ’s 2026 World Cup tactical group guides, walking you through the key battles on the pitch, the players to look out for, and the fun facts to impress your friends ahead of the tournament.