World Cup 2026: Group C Preview
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Vinicius has already etched himself into the rich history of Real Madrid by leading the club to multiple Champions League triumphs. Is this summer his moment to do the same with his country, and end their trophy drought?
Brazil 🇧🇷
FIFA Rank: 6th
Qualified as: 5th place in CONMEBOL
The Skinny
For much of World Cup history, no one nation has been more synonymous with the game than Brazil. The South American giants still own the most titles (5) of any country, they boast numerous players that are debatably in the Top 10 of all time, and from their first triumph in 1958 to their latest in 2002, were perceived as the de facto favorites coming into every World Cup. But the 21st century has largely seen them getting knocked off their mantle. Since that last trophy lift 24 years ago, the Seleção haven't even gotten back to the Final, and more often than not haven't even been that close: their lone 2 Copa America titles and lone trip past the World Cup quarterfinals all came on home soil, and the latter ended in one of the most infamous moments in their footballing history. So, can this be the side to finally turn Brazilan fates around after a long time in the wilderness? A difficult qualifying campaign and a team devoid of the Joga Bonito identity has many skeptical, but with one of the best managers in modern history at the helm and an enviable amount of talent at his beck and call, they might be able to capitalize on a rare "underdog" status.
The Best XI
Sure, this isn't the loaded Brazil teams of years past: no Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká, Roberto Carlos, Dida, or even Neymar-- who is, almost inexplicably, included in this squad but surely won't feature much --to write home about. But this is still a starting XI all but about 5 teams at this World Cup would kill for, especially at the two poles of the field. Liverpool's Alisson Becker is one of the best goalies in the world, and he'll play behind possibly the best CB pairing in the entire tournament in Arsenal's Gabriel and Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos, who both started in last weekend's Champions League Final. Up on the wings, Brazil can boast the runners-up to the Ballon d'Or from each of the last two years, and they could flank a couple Premier League upstarts in Matheus Cunha (Manchester United) and Brentford's breakout star Igor Thiago. If there's a chief concern for the Seleção, it's an incredibly thin midfield, so an awful lot of responsibility will fall on Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães and the veteran Casemiro, who experienced a major renaissance this past season in Manchester.
Morocco 🇲🇦
FIFA Rank: 8th
Qualified as: CAF Group E winners
The Skinny
A little under 4 years ago, Morocco made history in Qatar by becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals. It was no fluke, either; they reached that point by winning a group that included Belgium and eventual 3rd-place finishers Croatian, and beating Spain and Portugal in successive knockout stage matches. Now, the Atlas Lions head stateside no longer underdogs, but rather in the unprecedented territory of being perceived contenders. Expectations are a whole different level of pressure, but they come with good reason: this is an experienced and talented squad, with players from across Europe's biggest teams, and still the class of Africa*, to boot.
*(Or the second best, depending on who you ask.)
The Best XI
The vast majority of that 2022 Morocco team is still intact, including breakout star goalie Yassine Bounou. New manager Mohamed Ouahbi favors a more aggressive attacking style, which works out well, given the bevy of attacking options in veteran striker En-Nesyri, young PSV star Saibari, and Real Madrid starter Brahim Díaz. Still, it's low-key the defensive positions that boast the most depth in this squad, with a CB pairing that starts at Marseille and Crystal Palace, and a defensive midfielder and fullback in Amrabat and Mazraoui (respectively) that both levied a star turn in the 2022 tournament into starting positions at Manchester United. Then, of course, there's Achraf Hakimi. Star, captain, and quite possily the best right back in the world at the moment.
Haiti 🇭🇹
FIFA Rank: 82nd
Qualified as: Winners of CONCACAF Group C
The Skinny
Believe it or not, this isn't Haiti's first-ever World Cup, having qualified for the 1974 tournament in West Germany. But the Haitian people could be forgiven for celebrating as if it was; truthfully, nobody expected Les Grenadiers to be here. This is a football program that was essentially put on hold for the better part of a decade after the devastating earthquake in 2010, and a nation that is currently going on Year 8 of civil and political unrest. Yet, amongst one of the toughest groups in the landmine that is CONCACAF qualifying. and unable to host any matches due to the aforementioned situation at home, Haiti qualified for the tournament top of their group, without even needing to rely on the two "playoff" spots reserved for North American sides. Securing just one point (their first ever in Cup history!) in a difficult group in this tournament would be cause for celebration for this side, perhaps the longest shot at this tournament. But really, the fact that they're here is already one of the best stories of the World Cup.
The Best XI
It won't surprise you to hear that you probably haven't heard of most anyone on Haiti's squad. Still, with the exception of a handful of MLS-based players, including Toronto FC starter Derrick Etienne Jr., this is a squad that is almost entirely Europe-based. Etienne will likely be joined in attack by a couple Premier League players, Wolverhampton's Bellegarde and Wilson Isidor of Sunderland, along with veteran star striker Duckens Nazon. The entire defensive midfield and back 5 are all Europe-based, too, primarily in France, with the notable exception of veteran captain defender Ricardo Adé, now at Ecuador's LDU Quito.
Scotland 🏴
FIFA Rank: 43rd
Qualified as: UEFA Group C winners
The Skinny
If you listen reaaaalllly closely, I think you can already hear the bagpipes starting. Scotland's thrilling 4-2 victory over Denmark last November clinched the The Tartan Army's first World Cup bid in nearly 30 years, and set off a party in Glasgow that probably hasn't stopped yet. Despite boasting many great players (and managers!) in their history, Scotland have never made it past the group stage of this tournament, and their last couple major tournament appearances in the Euros won't inspire much confidence that this tournament will be different. But this a nation that has sneakily been developing some bona fide talent, and a team that will probably enjoy the best fan support of anyone, at least anyone outside the Americas. Never count the fierce Scots out.
The Best XI
For years, the joke went "of course Scotland finally has a couple world-class talents, but they both play left-back," but in recent years Kieran Tierney has shifted into more of a LCB role at times, and I expect that's where the Celtic man will play, with newly departed Liverpool legend Andy Robertson outside of him. They'll be joined in the back by Hearts veterans Grant Hanley and in goal, Craig Gordon... 78 years between the two of them! Scotland's trouble in the recent Euro Cup exits has typically been scoring goals, and they still lack a bona fide target man up top, with Torino's Che Adams being the most likely starter. That's where the attacking midfield will need to step up: Scott McTominay has been a revelation for club and country since his move to Napoli, winning the Serie A player of the season last year, and Ryan Christie and especially John McGinn are coming off fine seasons for two teams that themselves are coming off fine seasons, Bournemouth and Europa League champions Aston Villa.
Group Schedule (all times ET)
6/13, 6 PM: Brazil v Morocco (New York City)
6/13, 9 PM: Haiti v Scotland (Boston)
6/19, 6 PM: Scotland v Morocco (Boston)
6/19, 8:30 PM: Brazil v Haiti (Philadelphia)
6/24, 6 PM: Scotland v Brazil (Miami) / Morocco v Haiti (Atlanta)
Group Prediction
The first 3 groups were all tricky to pick because of how generally evenly matched they felt, at least among 3 of the teams in the group. Group C is a little more clear-cut: anything but Scotland in 3rd and Haitin in 4th would constitute a surprise for me. Haiti are one of the weakest sides at this tournament and I expect will be ripe for the plucking as teams try to capitalize on goal differential to position themselves for the Eound of 32, and this Scotland side is a good deal better than them, but not, I don't think, at the level where they're going to take points off Brazil or Morocco. The big question comes at the top of the group, and I think I'm gonna call the upset: I think Morocco will surprise Brazil in the opening match of the group. The African side are a far more talented and cohesive team than most of the sides Brazil has struggled against under Carlo Ancelotti. I do think Brazil will recover nicely with big wins over Haiti and Scotland, but it won't be enough to unseat the Moroccans, who will also win out to claim the group.
Comments