Spanish star Xavi Hernandez, former coach of FC Barcelona, shared his opinion on the teams that might emerge as surprises during the 2026 World Cup finals, giving special praise to the Moroccan national team, which he believes could rewrite history once again.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Xavi was asked which team might cause an upset in the upcoming World Cup. He noted that it is not an easy question, explaining that teams like Belgium and Croatia have quality but are no longer considered “surprises” in themselves.

The former Barcelona star added, “Maybe Morocco again,” confirming his choice of the Atlas Lions as the top candidate to play the role of the “dark horse.”

Regarding the favorites to win the title, Xavi placed his trust in his home country Spain, despite their early exit from the Qatar 2022 World Cup in the round of 16 against Morocco on penalties.

On an individual level, Xavi expressed hope that rising star Lamin Yamal would win the best player award at the tournament, considering that a player like Pedri also has the potential to be among the top stars of the next World Cup.

It is worth noting that Xavi won the World Cup with Spain in the 2010 South Africa edition, alongside the golden generation of “La Roja.”