Morocco have announced their 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. On Tuesday 26 May, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi revealed his eagerly awaited squad list for the global tournament, as the Atlas Lions prepare to build on their historic run in Qatar 2022 and announce themselves as genuine contenders on the world stage once again.
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Yassine Bounou | Al Hilal |
| Munir El Kajoui | Al Wehda |
| Reda Tagnaouti | Wydad Casablanca |
Defenders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Achraf Hakimi | PSG |
| Noussair Mazraoui | Bayern Munich |
| Sofyan Amrabat | Fenerbahçe |
| Nayef Aguerd | West Ham United |
| Issa Diop | Fulham |
| Chadi Riad | Real Betis |
| Zakaria El Ouahdi | Genk |
| Anass Salah-Eddine | Ajax |
| Youssef Belammari | Lecce |
| Redouane Halhal | Union Saint-Gilloise |
Midfielders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Azzedine Ounahi | Marseille |
| Ismael Saibari | PSV Eindhoven |
| Bilal El Khannouss | Genk |
| Samir El Mourabet | Nantes |
| Ayyoub Bouaddi | Lille |
| Neil El Aynaoui | Lens |
Forwards
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Brahim Díaz | Real Madrid |
| Abde Ezzalzouli | Real Betis |
| Soufiane Rahimi | Al Ain |
| Ayoub El Kaabi | Olympiacos |
| Chemsdine Talbi | Club Brugge |
| Gessime Yassine | Bordeaux |
| Ayoube Amaimouni | Charleroi |
The Coach: From Youth Glory to Senior Ambition
Mohamed Ouahbi arrived at the senior role with an impeccable reputation. Having led Morocco to the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ title in 2025, he took over from Walid Regragui last March. His appointment signaled a seamless transition: Ouahbi already knew the next generation of Moroccan talent intimately, having coached many of them to youth glory. His task now is to blend that emerging crop with the experienced core that reached the semi-finals of Qatar 2022 – a feat no African nation had ever achieved before.
Ouahbi’s philosophy emphasizes:
- High-intensity pressing – A hallmark of Morocco’s successful youth teams.
- Tactical flexibility – Comfortable switching between a back four and back three.
- Technical security – Every player must be comfortable in possession under pressure.
The Rising Star: Ayyoub Bouaddi – Morocco’s Future
Among the most exciting inclusions is 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is set to make his senior World Cup debut. Bouaddi is one of the most coveted young talents in European football – a composed, technically gifted central midfielder who could also have represented France. (Source: fifa.com)
Ouahbi beamed when discussing the teenager:
“We’re very proud and delighted to have him with us. The most important thing is that he is very proud to represent Morocco. He’s a good lad, very thoughtful, with lots of qualities. During the 25 minutes he played with us [in the friendly against Burundi during the training camp], we could see straight away that he picked things up very quickly. It’s a pleasure to work with players like that.”
The Notable Absence: Sofiane Boufal
Sofiane Boufal took part in Morocco’s training camp this May in his national team return after two years, but ultimately was not selected. The talented dribbler, who famously scored a wonder goal at the 2018 World Cup, was a fan favorite and many expected his inclusion.
Ouahbi addressed the difficult decision with characteristic honesty and respect:
“[Boufal] would have deserved it if I’d been able to pick 30 or 40 players. Based on his performances, he deserved it. The players I’ve picked deserve it too; I’ve made a choice. Boufal plays more centrally, in the number 10 role. Right from the start, I was honest with him and told him that the number 10 spot was already taken. He’s obviously still a good player.”
The “number 10 spot” Ouahbi referred to is likely occupied by either Hakim Ziyech or Azzedine Ounahi, both of whom offer similar creativity but with greater tactical discipline and pressing intensity – key requirements in Ouahbi’s system.
Other Notable Inclusions and Omissions
Inclusions:
- Bilal El Khannouss (Genk) – The 21-year-old attacking midfielder is one of Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League stars; creative and fearless.
- Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven) – Powerful, box-to-box midfielder who has impressed in the Champions League.
- Chadi Riad (Real Betis) – Young centre-back already trusted by Ouahbi from the U-20 setup.
- Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis) – Direct winger known as “Abde”; explosive and unpredictable.
Omissions (beyond Boufal):
- Munir El Haddadi (Las Palmas) – The former Spain international has not found favor under Ouahbi.
- Ryan Mmaee (Ferencváros) – Striker misses out despite decent club form.
- Fouad Chafik (Clermont Foot) – Veteran full-back omitted for younger options.
Tactical Approach: Ouahbi’s System
Ouahbi has evolved Regragui’s pragmatic, counter-attacking style into something more possession-oriented, though defensive solidity remains the foundation.
Preferred Formation: 4-3-3 (with flexibility to switch to 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1)
Projected Starting XI (4-3-3):
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Yassine Bounou |
| RB | Achraf Hakimi |
| CB | Nayef Aguerd |
| CB | Romain Saïss |
| LB | Noussair Mazraoui |
| CM | Sofyan Amrabat |
| CM | Azzedine Ounahi |
| CM | Bilal El Khannouss |
| RW | Hakim Ziyech |
| ST | Youssef En-Nesyri |
| LW | Abdessamad Ezzalzouli |
The Squad’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Elite defensive core – Bounou, Aguerd, Hakimi, Saïss, Mazraoui form a world-class backline.
- Midfield engine – Amrabat and Ounahi provide balance of destroyer and creator.
- Tournament experience – Nine players have been to a World Cup semi-final.
- Youthful energy – Bouaddi, El Khannouss, and others bring hunger.
Weaknesses:
- Goal scoring – En-Nesyri is the only proven striker; depth behind him is questionable.
- Dependence on Ziyech – Creativity can dry up if he is neutralized.
- Ouahbi’s inexperience – This is his first senior international tournament.
تشكيلة منتخب المغرب لكأس العالم 2026
Morocco enter the 2026 World Cup as Africa’s great hope once again. While Ouahbi lacks senior-level experience, he inherits a squad brimming with quality, unity, and belief. If they can solve their goalscoring issues and navigate a potentially tricky group, a quarter-final berth or better is well within reach.
The inclusion of Bouaddi signals that Ouahbi is thinking beyond 2026, but the presence of the Qatar 2022 core means the present is equally important. Morocco are no longer happy just to be at the World Cup. They expect to compete.
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