New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a football enthusiast, has shared his prediction for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place from June 11 to July 19. He envisions Morocco becoming the first African nation crowned world champion by defeating France in the final.
As the tournament approaches, particularly in the United States, Zohran Mamdani is already imagining a historic scenario. In a prediction exercise conducted by The Guardian, the New York mayor surprised many by naming Morocco as the future winner of the competition. He believes the Lions of the Atlas would triumph over the French team in the ultimate match.
This bold stance grabs attention, especially since he admits he doesn’t follow football closely every day. Still, he is a declared fan of “soccer,” a sport less common in American politics, which tends to focus more on American football, basketball, or baseball. A supporter of Arsenal, who recently celebrated their long-awaited English championship, he has consistently shown his interest in football. He even attended the Eid al-Adha prayer in the Bronx wearing a kurta in the club’s colors and organized a gathering for the Africa Cup of Nations final in a municipal court.
Beyond just a prediction, this scenario highlights a historic perspective for African football. If Morocco were to win in 2026, they would become the first African nation to lift the World Cup trophy. The Lions of the Atlas would also be the first representatives from the continent to reach a global final.
This scenario carries additional symbolic weight since the opponent named by Zohran Mamdani is none other than France. A matchup that would evoke memories of the 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar, where the Blues eliminated Morocco (2-0). This campaign remains, to date, the best performance by an African team in World Cup history, with no other team from the continent having reached this level before.
