Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has called Morocco the toughest team his side has faced so far at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He praised Morocco’s skill ahead of their important Round of 32 match in Monterrey, Mexico.

During his pre-match press conference, Koeman said the Dutch are preparing for one of their hardest games of the tournament. He acknowledged that Morocco deserves to be considered one of the top teams in the world.

Although the Netherlands topped Group F, Koeman did not consider his team the favourites against the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions.

“I’m not sure if we are the favourites in the match against Morocco,” Koeman said.

Koeman expressed disappointment that two of the highest-ranked teams are facing each other so early in the knockout rounds.

“It’s a big thing for this game to take place now because we are both teams that ought to go further than this stage,” he added.

Koeman praised Morocco’s playing style, calling the Atlas Lions one of the most skilled teams left in the competition. He pointed out that Morocco plays confidently, attacks well, and combines quickly when they have the ball, making it a dangerous team.

According to Koeman, Morocco does not just defend; they try to control matches through their technical skills and attacking style.

“They want to attack,” he said. “They have a lot of football quality, and they can score easily.“

Koeman also highlighted captain Achraf Hakimi, saying he is one of Morocco’s key players because he can play in different positions and help drive the team forward.