Morocco World Cup 2026 team guide

This article is portion of nan Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a practice betwixt immoderate of nan champion media organisations from nan 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is moving previews from 3 countries each time successful nan run-up to nan tourney kicking disconnected connected 11 June.

The plan

Four years aft reaching nan semi-finals of a World Cup for nan first time, Morocco group sail for North America pinch ambitions precocious and a squad pinch moreover amended pedigree than astatine Qatar 2022.

Sometimes history does repetition itself and Morocco will dream that happens this time. Just arsenic successful 2022, nan caput coach was precocious sacked. Mohamed Ouahbi, who won nan Under-20 World Cup pinch Morocco past year, replaced Walid Regragui successful March.

That move intends nan Atlas Lions will not person overmuch clip to get utilized to nan coach’s strategies and philosophy. In precocious March, Morocco drew 11- against Ecuador and hit Paraguay 2-1, showing signs of betterment compared pinch their caller shape nether Regragui. Ouahbi prefers a 4-2-3-1 statement that tin morph into 4-2-2-2 to create a lane of abstraction successful beforehand of nan captain, Achraf Hakimi, connected nan correct flank.

The biggest situation will beryllium to unrecorded up to nan expectations. In 2022, they made an unexpectedly heavy run. Now nan squad is classed eighth successful nan world and nan unit will beryllium constant. “I americium alert of nan expectations, but very honoured,” Ouahbi said astatine his unveiling. “I americium committed to moving pinch seriousness, humility and determination and besides a batch of patriotism to proceed connected nan way of progression of this team.”

This squad had already surgery a mates of solid ceilings (reaching nan aforementioned semi-final, positive their top-10 ranking), but successful January, Morocco knowledgeable 1 of nan astir bizarre episodes successful its footballing history. In nan Afcon final, Senegal’s players near nan transportation successful protestation complete a punishment awarded to Morocco. After a agelong hold Brahim Díaz missed his Panenka spot-kick and Senegal went connected to triumph 1-0. Two months later, however, nan Confederation of African Football, Caf, awarded nan title to Morocco.

Senegal person appealed to nan tribunal of arbitration for sport. Whatever happens, nan Afcon last was a trauma, nan repercussions of which could burst retired astatine immoderate clip if results don’t Morocco’s way. “We each lived a trauma arsenic Moroccans. That last was a difficult moment, but I deliberation what matters nan astir is continuity”, Ouahbi said. Continuity meaning to do arsenic well, aliases better, than successful Qatar.

The coach

Born successful Brussels, Mohamed Ouahbi first chose a profession successful education. However, his first experiences arsenic a coach were difficult and he was approached by section nine Maccabi Foot Brussels (MFB), wherever he started coaching and discovered nan value of pedagogy and communication. “At nan clip I wasn’t really comfortable successful beforehand of a group [of people],” he said. “MFB helped maine enforce myself and observe nan occupation of a coach.” Having spent 17 years successful nan Anderlecht academy, Ouahbi has seen galore talented players turn into superstars. In 2022, he took complaint of nan Morocco Under-20 team. He not only took nan Atlas Cubs to their first World Cup successful 2 decades, they won a maiden title successful Chile. He is expected to bring nan aforesaid power and decisiveness astatine nan apical level.

Star player

Achraf Hakimi is, without doubt, nan biggest prima Moroccan shot has known. If Larbi Ben Barek, Noureddine Naybet and Yassine Bounou person each enjoyed nan emotion and respect of fans, Hakimi is connected different level. He has been consistently successful for immoderate of nan world’s champion teams. After starting his profession astatine Real Madrid, he has represented Borussia Dortmund, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain, wherever he won nan Champions League successful 2025. “I don’t cognize if Luis Enrique changed my career,” he said. “But his presence has changed really nan world of shot sees me.” In February, it emerged he will look proceedings after an allegation of rape against him. He denies nan accusation.

Achraf Hakimi is nan biggest prima Moroccan shot has known. Photograph: Soccrates Images/Getty Images

One to watch

He became a Morocco world past September, but Neil El Aynaoui is already considered 1 of nan Atlas Lions’ champion players. Son of Moroccan tennis legend, Younes El Aynaoui, he is simply a multifunctional midfielder, beardown successful recovering nan shot and keen to subordinate attacks. After a convincing stint astatine Lens he joined Roma past summertime and, contempt nan fans’ first scepticism and fewer appearances astatine nan commencement of nan season, he became an important subordinate for them. If Morocco are to beryllium successful successful North America El Aynaoui will beryllium an important portion of nan jigsaw.

Unsung hero

Noussair Mazraoui is simply a worker connected nan field. Framed arsenic a right-back, “Nous” is overmuch much than that. At Manchester United he has been utilized successful six positions, ranging from cardinal defence to attacking midfield. For nan nationalist squad Mazraoui is simply a left-back, and helps arsenic a 3rd centre-back erstwhile Achraf Hakimi is connected nan attack, which is often nan case. But Mazraoui is decidedly important erstwhile nan squad needs a leader, particularly erstwhile Hakimi is not there. Mazraoui is keen to make judge his teammates do not suffer attraction and that says a batch astir really progressive he is.

Probable starting XI

Photograph: Guardian

What to expect from fans

As successful Russia and Qatar, Morocco fans will capable their allocated seats successful North America. As good arsenic a increasing fanbase that tin spend to travel nan nationalist squad wherever it plays, Morocco tin count connected a ample diaspora connected nan different broadside of nan Atlantic. There are astir 30,000 Moroccans surviving successful New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, arsenic good arsenic galore successful Canada. So expect fans to adhd colour and affirmative noise, wrong and extracurricular stadiums. The item is apt to beryllium nan nationalist anthem.

Relationship pinch nan US/Trump?

Morocco has beardown ties pinch nan co-hosts of nan tourney going backmost to 1777, erstwhile it became nan first state to recognise US independence. Trump, meanwhile, during his first mandate, proclaimed that nan US recognised Moroccan sovereignty complete Western Sahara, which made him very popular. US culture, particularly Hollywood and music, has a immense power successful mundane Moroccan life.

The main rumor is not governmental – and not moreover pinch nan US – but alternatively pinch Fifa and nan summons prices. Moroccans are prepared to salary to spot a nationalist squad game, but nan pricing for this tourney has reached caller highs.

Written by Amine El Amri for SKWAD by 2M TV