2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup: Group C Preview

With just over a fortnight remaining until the biggest global sporting spectacle takes centre stage, head coaches and their FAs are making last minute alterations before they step foot in North America to fight for a chance to lift the ultimate prize in football – The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. 

Keeping that in mind, we at SportsKhabri will be bringing you the complete Group stage preview and analysis of all the teams. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the preview of Group C comprising five-time winners Brazil, African giants Morocco, and both Haiti and Scotland making their long awaited comebacks. 

FIFA World Cup Group C:

• Brazil (CONMEBOL)
• Morocco (CAF)
• Haiti (CONCACAF)
• Scotland (UEFA)

The Run-In

Brazil

The most successful team in the history of the tournament – as well as the only team to play in every single edition since its inception in 1930 – recent decades have seen this footballing giant fall behind some of its traditional European and continental rivals. 

Indeed, they’ve won just one Copa America title – that too in 2019 – over the last decade. Unlike previous campaigns, they finished fifth in their qualification group – enough to secure automatic qualification – but nowhere near good enough for a nation with such rich heritage. Resulting in legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti taking the reins in May 2025. 

10 games into his tenure, although the football has improved but his side won just five, drew two and lost three in that run. 

Morocco

Topping the group against this Moroccan outfit will be difficult, though. This is arguably the golden era for Moroccan football – finishing fourth in the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup – a first for Africa and an Arab nation – as well as becoming African champions in 2025 for the second time in their history. 

Unlike Brazil, Morocco’s qualification campaign went as smoothly as one could hope for. They won all eight games, scored 22 and conceded just two goals. Besides, this side is currently on a 27-game unbeaten run – winning a ridiculous 24 games while drawing just three. 

Haiti

The full-time whistle at the Estadio Ergilio Hato marked the end of a 52-year-long wait for Les Grenadiers as a 2-0 win over Nicaragua sealed the top spot and direct qualification for this year’s marquee event in June. 

Sebastien Minge’s side finished runners-up to Curacao in the 2nd Qualification Round before they were paired up with Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the 3rd Round. However, two draws in their opening two fixtures and then a defeat in matchday 4 to Honduras meant that Minge’s side had to win their remaining two fixtures while results elsewhere had to go their way for them to secure direct qualification. 

As fate would have it, Haiti won both their remaining games while Honduras lost to Nicaragua and drew against Costa Rica – resulting in Sebastien Minge’s side finishing top of Group C and securing their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. 

Scotland

Similar to Haiti, the Scots are making their long due comeback at the biggest stage after 28 years. Set to make their ninth appearance, The Tartan Army are yet to go beyond the group stages. 

After failing to qualify for the last six editions – including the playoff semifinal defeat to Ukraine in 2022 – the Scots were placed in Group C alongside Denmark, Greece and Belarus. Although the Danes were favourites in many people’s eyes, Scotland secured top spot and automatic qualification as a result. 

However, the last international break saw them lose against both Japan and Ivory Coast – and deservingly. 

How each team stacks up

Given the wealth of talent at their disposal, Brazil comfortably rank amongst the top five squads in this FIFA World Cup – alongside the likes of France, Spain, England and Argentina. Moreover, having someone like Carlo at the helm immediately makes them one of the favourites for this year. 

With limited time at his disposal, though, the Italian has already tried 3-4 different formations and tactics in his 10 games in order to get a proper understanding of what he’s working with. Factoring in their talent pool and level of opposition, securing group stage progression shouldn’t be a concern. However, whether Ancelotti can galvanise this group of huge egos and lead them to glory is a different question altogether. 

Just like Brazil, Morocco, too, will be entering this world cup with questions regarding how the team will respond with a change in leadership. Everything we have discussed so far came under Walid Regragui, however, three months prior to the world cup, the 50-year-old stepped down from his post citing mental fatigue as well as stating that the team needed a new vision, identity ahead of the marquee event. Thus, with Mohamed Ouahbi in charge, it’ll be interesting to see whether they can maintain the same level of performance they did under Regragui. 

Ranked 83rd in the world, Haiti are one of the lowest ranked sides in this year’s competition. They have a couple of players with Premier League experience like Wilson Isidor and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, however, the rest of the squad lacks experience and exposure at the highest level. 

As for Scotland, the fact that eight best third-placed teams go through to the next round means they will fancy their chances to finally break their duck of group stage knockouts. A positive result against one of Brazil or Morocco and a win against Haiti will certainly make it possible. 

Besides, they have decent players both in defence and midfield, although the lack of quality strikers might come back to bite them. 

Who makes it out of Group C

Given the wealth of star power and a manager like Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, we expect the Selecao to top Group C but not without competition from Morocco – if Ouahbi can galvanise his boys. Scotland certainly stand a chance of making the knockout rounds, however, they have to get their act together given how vulnerable they’ve looked recently. 

Prediction

Brazil (1st)
Morocco (2nd)
Scotland (3rd)
Haiti (4th)