Noussair Mazraoui’s remarks around the significance of the World Cup could be incredibly symbolic in the career of one key first-team Manchester United player.
The 28-year-old French-born defender is heading to his second World Cup tournament with Morocco after previously featuring in the 2022 competition.
Noussair Mazraoui played an important role in Morocco’s ‘dark horse’ run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the Atlas Lions reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.
The former Manchester United star lifted his first major silverware with Morocco during the 2025-26 season after their retroactive 2025 Africa Cup of Nations win.
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Noussair Mazraoui’s analysis of the FIFA World Cup proves how important it is for Man Utd players like Kobbie Mainoo
While Noussair Mazraoui heads to his second World Cup, several Manchester United first-team players will be playing in the competition for the first time ever.
Kobbie Mainoo is only one of the Man Utd players who are now vying for a chance to feature at the tournament, which is held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The 21-year-old Stockport-born talent’s stunning run of form under Michael Carrick last season allowed him to climb back into the England team under Thomas Tuchel.
Speaking ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Mazraoui perfectly encapsulated the importance of a player’s career in not having many World Cups to feature in.
“I think they did it very [smartly] with the timings,” he told Manchester United’s official website.
“Once in four years, you don’t have a lot of World Cups in your career. If you start off very young and go until a later age, you still have five or six, that’s still not a lot, but the Champions League you can have every season, European [trophies], Africa Cup, it’s all the same.
“I think that’s what makes it extra special. It’s just once every four years and you just don’t know where you are after four years.
“You can be in a great spot, but if you’re not in the right moment, in the right club, in a [sic] good form, you can also not be selected.
“So, I think that’s what makes it special. Not a lot of players can say that they’ve played a couple [of] World Cups. I think it’s elite.”
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Noussair Mazraoui highlights how this could be the first of many World Cups for Man Utd and England star Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo’s last appearance on the major stage for England was at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the Man Utd midfielder was a standout for Sir Gareth Southgate.
The United youth academy product impressed during England’s run to the final of Euro 2024, which ended in a 2-1 defeat to Spain at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Fast-forward from 2024 to 2026 and Mainoo could make an appearance — or even start — for England at his first World Cup ever under England boss Thomas Tuchel.
Just as Morocco defender Mazraoui pointed out, the magnitude of the World Cup is amplified by the time it takes for each FIFA tournament to roll around.
However, the stage is set for Mainoo to have one World Cup under his belt and only add further tournament experience as his promising career continues to develop.
Mainoo has incredible long-term potential — as shown in the 2025-26 season after overcoming his first test of adversity — and could really reach an ‘elite’ status in football if he can make multiple World Cup appearances.
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