Scotland will compete against Morocco in the World Cup 2026 group stage match. The Scottish lineup includes Gunn, Hanley, Hendry, Tierney, Patterson, McTominay, Ferguson, Robertson, McGinn, Christie, and Adams. Their substitutes are Kelly, Gordon, Hickey, Fletcher, Dykes, Stewart, Souttar, Hyam, Doak, Hirst, Shankland, McLean, Ralston, Curtis, and McKenna.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s squad features Bounou, Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui, El Aynaoui, Bouaddi, Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannous, and Saibari, with substitutes including Mohamedi, Tagnaouti, Amrabat, Saadane, Talbi, Rahimi, El Ouahdi, El Mourabet, Yassine, Sbai, Belammari, El Kaabi, Amaimouni-Echghouyab, Halhal, and Saleh-Eddine.
The match will be officiated by referee Ilgiz Tantashev from Uzbekistan.
With the USA team securing a solid victory over Australia, the likelihood of all three host nations advancing seems promising. In contrast, the hosts of the previous tournaments in 2010 and 2022 did not progress past the group stages, but this development is generally favorable for business.
“D’you think there’s a lot of ‘we mustn’t underestimate the Scots’ doing the rounds on the Moroccan TV pre-game chat, or is that peculiar to English pundits when your lot are up against lower opposition?”
A question posed by Tony Barr inquires whether Moroccan TV is also emphasizing the need to respect Scotland, or if this sentiment is unique to English pundits facing lower-ranked teams. He speculates, “We are under no illusion about the size of the task. I feel Morocco are a really, really good side. They reached the last four of the last World Cup and I have a feeling this Morocco team is slightly better than that, so that gives you an idea of the task ahead. They have power, they have pace, they have little bits of skill that can open up a game. For me they are the real deal, a top side. We will have to be at our very best to compete. “It is a big challenge for us. We give them a lot of respect. We expect they will probably have more of the ball, more possession. We have to make sure that when we have the ball we can be a threat to Morocco.”
Weather conditions in Foxboro show a comfortable 26 degrees with some cloud cover, a stark contrast to what could be considered a heatwave back in Largs.
The transfer market remains active, with Ayyoub Bouaddi attracting attention from multiple clubs following his performance against Brazil. Currently with Lille, he is unlikely to remain there after the transfer window closes.
“Ouahbi was referring to Bouaddi’s performance in a 1-0 victory against Ancelotti’s Madrid in October 2024 on the day he turned 17, which ended with Lille’s supporters singing happy birthday to him on the pitch. That ensured that every big club in Europe has been tracking his progress since. Arsenal are in preliminary talks to sign a player believed to be valued at about £70m by Lille; Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are thought to have registered an interest and Liverpool had scouts watching him on Saturday.”
Following the match against Brazil, it was evident that Morocco’s supporters were notably louder, which promises to create an unforgettable atmosphere in Foxboro.
Steve Clarke, known for his measured approach, provided a realistic overview of the Moroccan team.
“We are under no illusion about the size of the task. I feel Morocco are a really, really good side. They reached the last four of the last World Cup and I have a feeling this Morocco team is slightly better than that, so that gives you an idea of the task ahead. They have power, they have pace, they have little bits of skill that can open up a game. For me they are the real deal, a top side. We will have to be at our very best to compete. It is a big challenge for us. We give them a lot of respect. We expect they will probably have more of the ball, more possession. We have to make sure that when we have the ball we can be a threat to Morocco.”
Scott McTominay’s previous performance against Haiti may not have been his strongest, yet he remains a pivotal player for Scotland.
“You need only walk in the vicinity of Hampden Park to learn of McTominay’s standing as a Scotland player. Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law have never been depicted on portraits on the gable end of terraced flats close to the national stadium. McTominay, a player born in England, produced such an iconic moment against Denmark last November that it will sit as an artistic reference point for ever more.”
Paul MacInnes has interacted with Scotland’s passionate fans, noting their presence in New England.
“Just 10 days since they first began arriving in New England, Scotland fans have managed to bring yet another nation under their thrall. Carrying a letter of support from FC Cologne, the last place to fall for the Scots two years ago, they have charmed, amused and fascinated the locals in Boston and beyond. Following the antics of the Scottish fans, their discovery of tailgating or their dancing at the baseball appears to have become an American pastime, with clips ubiquitous on everyone’s social media feeds.”
The Tartan Army has successfully made new friends in Boston and celebrated their first win since 1990 against Haiti on Saturday. The Concacaf team did not resemble the Iran team of 1978 or Costa Rica from 1990. Scotland’s performance was far from flawless, with nerves evident throughout the game. Will John McGinn’s deflected goal stand as the highlight? Now, they face a significant challenge in the African champions, Morocco, who performed commendably against Brazil in their opening match. Having reached the semi-finals in the last tournament, this Moroccan squad is more dynamic than their predecessors from Qatar. A draw could be advantageous, as the path to qualification remains open for Scotland. The prospect of advancing from the group stage is tantalizingly close.
The match is set to kick off at 6 PM ET/11 PM UK time/8 AM AEST. Stay tuned for updates.
