The World Cup Group C showpiece takes place in the first round of matches when Brazil face Morocco.
Scotland fans will lay claim that their meeting with the Selecao is the main event in Group C. In reality, Saturday’s clash pits the World Cup’s most successful team against the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations winners.
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The Atlas Lions are also not to be taken lightly. While they needed a controversial overturned result to win their second Afcon at the turn of the year, they are widely considered to be one of the strongest African nations in North America.
And that is despite Mohamed Ouahbi’s decision to overlook striker Youssef En-Nesyri. Even with the recent withdrawals of Ez Abde and Nayef Aguerd, Morocco are not to be underestimated.
There is a youthful core to the squad that cannot over overlooked. Ayyoub Bouaddi’s decision to declare his national allegiance to Morocco was key. However, it’s another Ligue 1-based midfielder that will go some way to determining how far Morocco goes at the World Cup.
Introducing El Mourabet
Samir El Mourabet was born in Strasbourg. He played a key role for the French side last season as Gary O’Neil’s men finished eighth in France’s top tier. They came close to securing a Uefa Conference League final spot only to fall to Rayo Vallecano at the semi-final stage.
And while Strasbourg failed to secure a European finish, El Mourabet caught the eye with a series of assured midfield showings. His performances for the French side was rewarded with a first senior call-up back in March. “It’s a dream to play for Morocco,” El Mourabet said ahead of meetings with Ecuador and Paraguay.
Despite his inexperience at international level, El Mourabet was named in the 2026 World Cup squad. There’s a chance he’ll start Saturday’s meeting with Brazil. Carlo Ancelotti has a raft of attacking options at his disposal. The Italian needs to find a way to crowbar Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha and Igor Thiago into the side. That leaves Rayan, Gabriel Martinelli, Neymar and Endrick as options off the bench.
Keeping the rampant attack quiet is of the utmost importance. It’s a role at El Mourabet excels in. The Moroccan is a ball winner and then some. Only two players made more tackles than the 20-year-old (79) in Ligue 1 last season, this despite starting 25 of a possible 34 matches. He managed an 80.6% tackle success rate.
More than a ball winner
However, El Mourabet is more than just a ball winner in the mould of, say, Manuel Ugarte. He operates as a deep-lying playmaker who seeks to set Strasbourg on the frontfoot. After all, the youngster ranked sixth for forward passes (341) of all Strasbourg players last season.
His 60.6 passes per 90 minutes was the fourth-most of all Strasbourg players to register at least 1,500 minutes in the 2025-26 campaign. El Mourabet’s 2.3 completed long passes and 1.2 chances created per 90 were also solid hauls. While El Mourabet registered just two assists, that says more about his teammates’ profligacy rather than the player’s ability to create chances.
The way with which he wins the ball and turns defence into attack contributed to Strasbourg’s four counter-attacking goals. That ranked ninth. 26% of their attacks came through the middle, the fifth-highest proportion.
20-year-old’s defensive work allows key attackers to shine
El Mourabet, though, will need to switch his game up when Morocco take on Brazil this weekend. Ancelotti’s men are expected to dominate possession. The Atlas Lions will sit a little deeper. They will see a little less of the ball than Strasbourg managed in Ligue 1 last season.
It’ll be a real test of El Mourabet’s ball-winning capability, but he proved how effective he is off the ball with Strasbourg last season. And if Brazil do press high, he’s a player who is able to work his way out of danger. Indeed, he was dispossessed just 0.8 times per 90 in the 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign.
While Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz are the undisputed stars of this Morocco side, El Mourabet is the safety net for Ouahbi’s side. The former pair are able to push on and attack opponents, safe in the knowledge the latter is shielding the backline. Just as a number of youngsters are set to explode onto the world stage this summer, El Mourabet is no exception.
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