Africa holds its breath as the **Moroccan squad for the 2026 World Cup** has been unveiled by coach Mohamed Ouahbi, featuring the 26 Lions of the Atlas who aim to continue the historic journey that began in Qatar. In 2022, Morocco made history by becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup. Four years on from that remarkable achievement, a new head coach leads the Lions of the Atlas into the tournament set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Mohamed Ouahbi, who took over in March 2026 after the departure of Walid Regragui, inherits a generation of players who are now at their peak and are determined to replicate their success from Qatar.
The stakes are high for Morocco as they find themselves in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. The tournament kicks off with a significant opening match against the Seleção, which Carlo Ancelotti has described as the most dangerous opponent in the group. Under the leadership of Achraf Hakimi, the captain and right-back of Paris Saint-Germain, who won the Champions League in 2025, Morocco boasts a squad of unprecedented density. Key players include goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, striker Youssef En-Nesyri, and midfielders Brahim Diaz, Sofyan Amrabat, Noussair Mazraoui, and Nayef Aguerd, complemented by a new wave of talent emerging from Moroccan academies and the European diaspora. Below is the official list of players, along with the context and challenges facing the Lions of the Atlas heading into the 2026 World Cup.
Official List of Morocco's 26 Players for the 2026 World Cup
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Yassine Bounou | Goalkeeper |
| Munir El Kajoui | Goalkeeper |
| El Mehdi Al Harrar | Goalkeeper |
| Achraf Hakimi | Defender |
| Mohamed Chibi | Defender |
| Jawad El Yamiq | Defender |
| Romain Saïss | Defender |
| Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal | Defender |
| Nayef Aguerd | Defender |
| Adam Massina | Defender |
| Noussair Mazraoui | Defender |
| Anass Salah-Eddine | Defender |
| Oussama Targhalline | Midfielder |
| Sofiane Amrabat | Midfielder |
| Ismaël Saibari | Midfielder |
| Neil El Aynaoui | Midfielder |
| Bilal El Khannouss | Midfielder |
| Azzedine Ounahi | Midfielder |
| Brahim Diaz | Forward |
| Ilias Akhomach | Forward |
| Chemsdine Talbi | Forward |
| Youssef En-Nesyri | Forward |
| Ayoub El Kaabi | Forward |
| Soufiane Rahimi | Forward |
| Abdessamad Ezzalzouli | Forward |
| Eliesse Ben Seghir | Forward |
Challenges Facing the Moroccan National Team at World Cup 2026
First and foremost, **Mohamed Ouahbi is managing his first World Cup as head coach of the Lions of the Atlas**. The Belgian-Moroccan tactician was appointed in March 2026 during a transitional phase, just three months before the tournament. His appointment followed the departure of Walid Regragui, who resigned after a disappointing home defeat to Senegal in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 – a national disillusionment after competing on Moroccan soil. Regragui left behind one of the best records in Moroccan football history, including the historic semi-final run in Qatar.
Ouahbi's background is unique; he spent seventeen years as a coach at RSC Anderlecht, where he nurtured talents like Youri Tielemans, Adnan Januzaj, and Leander Dendoncker. He was recalled by the FRMF in March 2022 to lead the Moroccan U20 team, guiding them to the final of the U20 CAN and winning the U20 World Championship in October 2025 in Chile, marking a historic first for Morocco in any category. This success convinced the federation to entrust him with the senior team. It is a bold gamble: handing a squad of World Cup semi-finalists to a coach who is new to this level just weeks before the opening match.
Additionally, **Morocco defends a historic status**. As semi-finalists in 2022 and fourth in the tournament after losing to Croatia in the third-place match, Morocco has become the reference point for African and Arab football. This performance has transformed the selection's image on the international stage and fueled unprecedented public enthusiasm. For the new generation, the challenge is no longer merely to perform well but to confirm that the Qatar achievement was not a fluke.
Another critical aspect under scrutiny is **Achraf Hakimi's physical condition**. The captain and right-back of PSG, who finished sixth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or and won the Marc-Vivien Foé award for the best African player in France, serves as the technical and emotional leader of the team. Despite winning the Champions League in 2025 and a fifth Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain, Hakimi has been hampered by a recurring left ankle injury that affected him during the season and at CAN 2025. His impact extends beyond defense; he orchestrates play and drives the ball forward, embodying this generation. His full fitness for the opening clash against Brazil will be a significant concern for the squad.
Moreover, **the depth of the squad is unprecedented**, blending experienced players with a new wave of talent. Morocco now has high-quality options at every position. In goal, Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal) remains a world-class reference. Defensively, Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille), and Achraf Dari form an experienced backline. In midfield, Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Gérone), and rising star Bilal El Khannous (Stuttgart) contribute both technique and stamina. Up front, Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe), and the new generation – Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen), Hamza Igamane (Lille), and Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland) – offer Ouahbi a plethora of offensive options. It is noteworthy that Hakim Ziyech, a key figure in the 2022 journey, is likely absent from the plans since his move to Wydad Casablanca.
In Group C, Morocco faces Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. As the top seed based on their FIFA ranking, Morocco's opening match against **Brazil** is a highly anticipated clash. This match has been described as the ultimate opener for Morocco. Carlo Ancelotti himself identified the Lions of the Atlas as the most dangerous opponent in his group, recalling Morocco's “fantastic” journey in Qatar. The draw also recalls a specific memory: in 1998 during World Cup France, Morocco faced Brazil in the group stage. The Moroccans defeated Scotland 3-0 but were eliminated despite earning four points, with Norway shocking Brazil. Twenty-eight years later, the scenario is repeating with the same three nations – Brazil, Scotland – in the group. Notably, Morocco defeated this same Seleção 2-1 in a friendly match in 2023, shortly after the Qatari World Cup.
Looking ahead, the **Moroccan squad has significant preparations** to undertake before the World Cup. They will play three preparation matches sanctioned by the FRMF to fine-tune their group and establish their rhythm. The friendlies include matches against Burundi, Madagascar, and Norway, with the latter serving as a high-level test just before the tournament. These matches represent the only opportunities for Ouahbi to implement his strategies prior to the opening match against Brazil.
As reported by planetegrandesecoles.com.
