Morocco vs Norway - prediction, team news, lineups

Stepping up their World Cup preparations successful the United States, Morocco and Norway clash astatine Sports Illustrated Stadium successful New Jersey for an planetary affable connected Sunday afternoon.

The Atlas Lions are protecting an unbeaten tally which stretches backmost into 2025, whilst Landslaget are precocious connected assurance pursuing an fantabulous qualification campaign.

Match preview

Conquering Spain and Portugal successful the knockout stages connected Qatari ungraded 4 years ago, Morocco became the first-ever African federation to scope the semi-finals of a World Cup, with the CAF giants looking to bask a akin tally this clip around.

With the African federation retrospectively handing the Atlas Lions the Africa Cup of Nations crown successful March, Mohamed Ouahbi's broadside are technically 27 matches unbeaten since an African Nations Championship decision to Kenya successful August 2025.

As good arsenic precocious 'lifting' their archetypal Africa Cup of Nations rubric successful fractional a century, Morocco besides travel into the 2026 World Cup disconnected the backmost of a flawless qualification period, successful which they won 8 consecutive matches.

Placed successful Group E alongside African minnows Niger, Tanzania and Congo, the Atlas Lions made small fuss of booking their spot astatine their seventh World Cup, scoring 22 goals crossed those 8 contests.

Morocco volition request to decision a planetary behemoth if they privation a favourable gully successful the circular of 32, with Ouahbi's troops preparing to look Brazil, Scotland and Haiti successful Group C of the World Cup.

Whilst the tag of tourney acheronian horses often weighs dense - inquire Turkey's Euro 2020 squad - Norway consciousness similar an emerging planetary powerhouse susceptible of managing expectations and converting imaginable into results.

Landslaget ended their 28-year hold for a World Cup finals quality with a sensational qualification run successful UEFA, with Stale Solbakken's broadside winning 8 consecutive matches, including 3-0 and 4-1 demolitions of Italy.

Scoring much than immoderate different subordinate successful European qualifying up of the North American event, Manchester City's Erling Haaland bagged 16 goals for Norway, supported by Arsenal creator Martin Odegaard.

Fellow World Cup competitors Switzerland and Sweden person already pitted the wits of Landslaget successful affable matches during this planetary window, with Jorgen Strand Larsen netting a brace successful a 3-1 triumph implicit Graham Potter's broadside past clip out.

Back astatine the World Cup finals for the archetypal clip successful the 21st century, Norway person been placed successful the arguably the toughest conception of the competition, facing disconnected against 2018 winners France, CAF giants Senegal and Iraq.

Morocco International Friendlies form:

W W W D W W 

Morocco signifier (all competitions):

W W W D W W

Norway International Friendlies form:

L W D L D W

Norway signifier (all competitions):

D W W L D W

Team News

After suffering a hamstring wounded whilst connected nine work for Paris Saint-Germain successful April, Achraf Hakimi is taking a dependable attack successful the build-up to the World Cup, meaning that the Morocco prima could beryllium retired of Sunday's friendly.

Starting the four-goal affable triumph implicit Madagascar earlier this month, Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui could beryllium deployed astatine right-back erstwhile again for the Atlas Lions.

Sitting retired of the starting XI past time, Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi could beryllium successful enactment for their archetypal starts of the planetary model this weekend.

A originative king from right-back for nine and country, Norway's Julian Ryerson provided 2 assists during the decision of Sweden connected June 1.

Strand Larsen strengthened his lawsuit for World Cup minutes with a brace past clip out, however, Haaland volition snatch his spot successful onslaught alongside Alexander Sorloth.

After an exceptional run for Bodo/Glimt connected the Champions League stage, Jens Petter Hauge is battling for planetary caps.

Morocco imaginable starting lineup:

Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Aguerd, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, El Mourabet, Diaz, Ounahi, Ezzalzouli; El Kaabi

Norway imaginable starting lineup:

Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Bobb, Berge, Aursnes, Nusa; Haaland, Sorloth

We say: Morocco 1-1 Norway

Both imaginable astonishment packages of the upcoming World Cup, determination should beryllium plentifulness of communal respect betwixt Morocco and Norway successful New Jersey this weekend.

With the 2 teams adapting to the challenging North American conditions, we are expecting a lowkey gully connected Sunday day up of the existent excitement adjacent week.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.