Published Jun 9, 6:54pm ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 9, 6:54pm ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 9, 6:54pm ET
Morocco and Haiti meet on matchday 3 of Group C at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with Morocco looking to secure their place in the knockout rounds.
Achraf Hakimi captains a Morocco side under new coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who took over just three months before the tournament after Walid Regragui's surprise departure.
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|---|---|
| Haiti | -310 |
| DRAW | +430 |
| Morocco | +900 |
Morocco reached the World Cup semifinal in 2022, beating Spain and Portugal along the way. Most of that squad is still here. Achraf Hakimi at right back is the best player in his position in world football right now, combining defensive solidity with attacking output that most wingers can't match. Brahim Diaz pulls the creative strings from AC Milan, operating between the lines in the space where Morocco do their best work. The squad also includes Noussair Mazraoui from Manchester United, Crystal Palace's Chadi Riad, and 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, who switched nationality from France to Morocco and earned his place on current form.
Youssef En-Nesyri and Hakim Ziyech both miss out through injury and the manager change has added uncertainty. New coach Ouahbi is three months into the job at the biggest tournament in the world. Morocco won the AFCON under disputed circumstances; they were initially stripped of the title after a walk-off protest before being reinstated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The squad arrives with questions around them. Against Haiti, those questions don't matter.
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Haiti are ranked 78th in the world and is making its second-ever World Cup appearance. Their defensive structure is the plan: sit compact, stay organized, and make Morocco work for every chance. Their primary goal threat is a striker comfortable playing alone up front and holding the ball under pressure. The squad is built entirely around defending and counter-attacking with pace.
Morocco's 2022 defensive record was the best at the tournament. They conceded five goals across seven matches, including clean sheets against Belgium, Spain, and Canada. Even with a new coach and the absence of En-Nesyri and Ziyech, the defensive shape Ouahbi has maintained from the Regragui era gives Morocco the kind of organized resilience Haiti will struggle to get through. For Haiti to take anything from this game, Morocco need to be disorganized and careless. Neither is likely.
Hakimi's attacking runs, Diaz in the half spaces, and a Morocco defensive block Haiti don't have the quality to break down. The atlas Lions close out Group C here. We're backing Morocco -310.
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Pick
Morocco -310
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