Morocco's Atlas Lions futsal team begins extensive preparation for CAN 2026
Morocco's national futsal team, the Atlas Lions, has initiated an intensive preparation program for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations CAN 2026, scheduled to be held in Morocco in October. Under the guidance of coach Hicham Dguig, the team will play eight friendly matches against opponents from three continents. This preparation aims to expose the triple African champions to diverse playing styles. The program begins with two matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé on August 13 and 15, 2026, at 7 PM. These matches will allow the technical staff to refine tactics, restore player rhythm, and evaluate offensive options against a tactically disciplined European team known for its physical play and defensive solidity. The preparation will continue with matches against global futsal powerhouses, including a double confrontation with Brazil, the FIFA world ranking leader, followed by two matches against Japan and two against Saudi Arabia. This diverse schedule is designed to test the team against various playing styles—South American creativity, Japanese rigor, and Saudi intensity—to build momentum for the tournament. The draw for the CAN 2026 futsal finals is set for August 10 in Rabat. Organized by the Confederation of African Football CAF, the ceremony will determine the group composition for the tournament, which runs from October 12 to 21 in Morocco. The eight qualified nations will be distributed into four pots based on FIFA world ran
