Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui has been named in Morocco’s starting lineup for their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C opener against Brazil on June 13 at MetLife Stadium. The confirmation ends days of speculation about his fitness after a shoulder injury sustained during a pre-tournament friendly.
Mazraoui went down in the 28th minute of Morocco’s warm-up match against Norway around June 8, sparking immediate concern about his availability for the tournament’s opening fixtures. His return to the starting XI represents a significant boost for the Atlas Lions as they face one of the tournament’s toughest group-stage opponents.
The road back from injury
The recovery timeline was tight but ultimately successful. Mazraoui underwent a gym-based rehabilitation program before rejoining full team training between June 11 and 12, just one to two days before the Brazil match.
Why Mazraoui matters to Morocco
