In an exhilarating announcement, the Moroccan national soccer team has revealed its squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America, showcasing a blend of seasoned talent and promising newcomers. Among the notable names is Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain star, who played a pivotal role in Morocco’s historic journey to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who took the reins in March, has strategically tapped into the country's rich diaspora, selecting a majority of players born in Europe to represent Morocco.
Ouahbi, a Belgium native, has included five players, including Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz, who were born in Spain and have familial ties that qualify them to play for Morocco. This squad also features recent additions such as Fulham's Issa Diop, PSV Eindhoven's Anass Salah-Eddine, and Lille's young talent Ayyoub Bouaddi, all of whom received FIFA's approval for their nationality switch in the past nine months. Notably, Diaz has been a part of the Moroccan team since 2024 after previously representing Spain.
The team will be based in New Jersey and is set to kick off its campaign against Brazil on June 13 in East Rutherford. Following this, Morocco will face Scotland in Massachusetts before concluding Group C against Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta. With the top two teams progressing to the round of 16 and a possible advancement for the third-place team, Morocco is poised to make a significant impact.
Reflecting on their remarkable performance in the 2022 World Cup, where they made history as the first African nation to reach the semifinals under the guidance of former coach Walid Regragui, Morocco aims to carry that momentum into this tournament. The previous edition saw Morocco triumph in its group ahead of heavyweights Croatia and Belgium, subsequently eliminating Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages, only to fall to France in the semifinals.
Returning goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who garnered acclaim for his performances in Qatar, will be making his third World Cup appearance at the age of 35. As it stands, Morocco enters the tournament as the African champions, although this title may soon be contested in the Court of Arbitration for Sport due to Senegal's appeal following their victory in January.
Following the departure of Regragui after the final loss to Senegal, Ouahbi has taken charge, bringing with him experience from leading Morocco to an Under-20 World Cup title last year. The Under-20 squad's success included standout Gessime Yassine, who has also been selected for the senior team.
Looking ahead, Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain, Portugal, and South American nations Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, marking another milestone for Moroccan football.
The full squad includes:
- Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (AS FAR)
- Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al Ahly), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (Genk), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Redouane Halhal (Mechelen), Issa Diop (Fulham)
- Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)
- Forwards: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Gessime Yassine (Strasbourg), Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyabe (Eintracht Frankfurt)
As reported by newsday.com.
