Arab hopes rest on Morocco and Egypt

MUSCAT: The dream of seeing an Arab nation lift the Fifa World Cup trophy remains alive after Morocco and Egypt secured their places in the knockout stage of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, raising hopes across the Arab world that another historic chapter could be written on football's biggest stage.
Morocco, whose remarkable run to the semi-finals at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar transformed perceptions of Arab and African football, have once again demonstrated their ability to compete with the world's elite. Meanwhile, Egypt have returned to the knockout stages for the first time in decades, inspired by the leadership and experience of global superstar Mohamed Salah.
Speaking to the Oman Observer, experienced Omani football coach Abdulaziz al Riyami believes both nations possess the quality, experience and tactical discipline to extend their campaigns and challenge for unprecedented success.
'Morocco and Egypt are among the strongest Arab teams in this tournament because they possess high-quality professional players performing at the highest level, together with the tactical maturity needed to compete in knockout football,' coach al Riyami said.
HISTORIC LEGACY Al Riyami praised Morocco's impressive qualification to the Round of 16 following their dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands, describing the Atlas Lions as one of the tournament's most balanced teams. 'Morocco deservedly secured their place in the last 16 round after a marathon encounter against the Netherlands. They displayed enormous resilience, tactical discipline and mental strength throughout the match,' he said.
According to al Riyami, Morocco's greatest strength lies in preserving the defensive identity that carried them to the historic semi-finals four years ago. 'The Moroccan team must remain committed to its defensive organisation. Their ability to close down spaces, frustrate opponents and launch rapid counter-attacks has become their trademark. We saw this clearly against the Netherlands and during their memorable performances against major nations in previous World Cups.'

He also highlighted the blend of experience and emerging talent within the Moroccan squad. 'The team possesses exceptional tactical maturity through its experienced core of players, while younger talents such as Sofiane Rahimi continue to provide energy, creativity and decisive contributions in crucial moments.'
Looking ahead to Morocco's Round of 16 encounter against Canada on Saturday, al Riyami stressed the importance of maintaining tactical balance. 'The knockout rounds require complete concentration and intelligent game management. Morocco must remain balanced in every department, but if they maintain their defensive discipline, mental strength and physical commitment, another historic run to the semi-finals—or perhaps even beyond—is a realistic possibility rather than merely an ambitious dream.'
EGYPT'S DISCIPLINE Coach Abdulaziz al Riyami also reserved praise for Egypt, whose disciplined displays have seen the Pharaohs return to the knockout rounds after a long absence. 'Egypt reached the Round of 16 thanks to an organised and highly disciplined campaign. Their thrilling victory over Australia on Friday night demonstrated the team's fighting spirit and tactical commitment.'
He believes Egypt's success has been built around head coach Hossam Hassan's pragmatic philosophy. 'The team's success comes from excellent defensive organisation, collective commitment, limiting mistakes at the back and capitalising on opponents' errors. Every player understands his role, and that collective discipline has been fundamental.'
Offensively, al Riyami identified the partnership between Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush as Egypt's greatest weapon. 'The understanding between Salah and Marmoush gives Egypt genuine attacking quality. They are capable of converting even limited opportunities into decisive goals, making them dangerous against any defence in the competition.'
However, he warned that maintaining defensive concentration will be essential if Egypt are to continue progressing. 'In the knockout rounds, Egypt must avoid conceding early goals and force opponents into physically demanding contests. If they continue to manage matches intelligently and the small details work in their favour, they have every opportunity to emerge as one of the tournament's biggest surprise packages.'
WHY OTHER ARAB TEAMS FELL SHORT While Morocco and Egypt continue flying the Arab flag, al Riyami reflected on the disappointing campaigns of several other Arab and Asian representatives. “Among the tournament's nine Asian participants — including Arab sides Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq — only Australia and Japan managed to progress beyond the group stage before both exited in the Round of 32.
According to Al Riyami, several technical factors contributed to these early eliminations. 'The first challenge was the considerable gap in physical intensity and match tempo. Teams such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan struggled to cope with the speed, athleticism and relentless pressure imposed by Europe's and South America's strongest nations.'
He also pointed to a lack of tactical flexibility. 'Several teams were unable to adapt once they fell behind. Defensive mistakes proved costly, while tactical adjustments during matches were often insufficient to change the momentum. This was reflected in the heavy defeats suffered by some teams during the tournament.'
Another decisive factor, he explained, was the shortage of players regularly competing in Europe's elite leagues. 'Unlike Morocco and Egypt, whose squads include numerous players performing week after week in Europe's top competitions, many players from Asian domestic leagues lack exposure to football at the highest intensity. That experience becomes invaluable during a World Cup, where every decision, every movement and every mistake can determine the outcome.'