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Friday, 21 August 2026dailybeirut.com
World Cup 2026
Noussair Mazraoui has played a key defensive role for Morocco in the FIFA World Cup, contributing significantly to their progress to the quarter-finals.
Four of Morocco’s five World Cup matches have featured Noussair Mazraoui as a starting left-back, where his defensive efforts have been pivotal.
Although he has not scored in the tournament, Mazraoui’s performance remains vital following his standout displays in the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Morocco faced a challenging first half against co-host Canada but secured their quarter-final spot with three goals in the second half.
In that match, Mazraoui recorded 14 defensive actions, including 10 clearances and a blocked shot on target, despite winning only one of three tackles.
He excelled in duels, winning eight of nine ground battles and four of six aerial contests, effectively neutralizing Canadian attackers.
Offensively, Mazraoui completed 83% of his passes and managed one successful dribble, though his single cross attempt did not find a teammate.
Morocco is set to face France in the quarter-finals, with Mazraoui aiming to help his team reach back-to-back World Cup semi-finals.
Featured image by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
