Present at a press conference alongside Mohamed Ouahbi, on the eve of the quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup between Morocco and France, Brahim Diaz displayed an ambitious and determined discourse. The Real Madrid player expressed confidence ahead of this major encounter, while reminding that the Atlas Lions must be present in all areas to hope to secure their place in the semi-finals.
When asked about the mindset of the Moroccan group, Brahim Diaz emphasized the mental strength shown by the Lions in the previous round against Canada. “We showed what we are capable of in the second half against Canada. We changed our way of playing, came back into the match, and managed to win. That’s our mentality; we want to keep moving forward,” he stated. He added, “Tomorrow will be a very important match, and everyone wants to participate and win it.”
Facing France, Brahim Diaz will notably meet Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni, his teammates at Real Madrid. However, the Moroccan quickly placed this duel in a collective context. “Mbappé and Tchouaméni are two excellent players. We will face each other tomorrow, and each of us will want to win. For my part, I want to help my team secure victory and qualify for the semi-finals,” he explained.
The Moroccan number 10 also spoke about his role in the team, without focusing on his personal statistics. “I am happy to be decisive when my team wins. I want to take my responsibilities and manage the pressure,” he confided. Brahim Diaz assured that he feels ready for this big meeting: “Everyone wants to participate in this match, and I am 100% ready. I have great confidence in achieving a positive result.”
The Real Madrid player also emphasized the depth and experience of the Moroccan group. “We also have experience. We have already played in big matches. I trust my team. I have seen that both starters and substitutes can come in and make a difference,” he highlighted. For him, Morocco must especially demonstrate efficiency: “Tomorrow, we will try to show our worth. We need to be better than our opponent and, above all, more efficient.”
Highly anticipated in the offensive sector, Brahim Diaz knows he will have an important role to play against the Blues. “My goal is to contribute to the team and to be one of the players capable of making a difference in the offensive sector,” he affirmed. But he refuses to reduce this clash to a question of individualities: “It doesn’t matter who scores or who provides the assist; what I want tomorrow is to win.”
Brahim Diaz also had a word for Achraf Hakimi, one of the key players in this Moroccan selection. “It’s a pleasure to be a teammate of a player like Achraf Hakimi,” he declared. He concluded with a phrase that perfectly summarizes the ambition of the Atlas Lions before this quarter-final: “We want to continue writing history.”
