Morocco Squad for 2026 World Cup: AFCON Champs Target Another Run

Mohamed Ouahbi
Ouahbi names Morocco squad for 2026 World Cup
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Morocco’s new coach left out En-Nesyri, El Karouani, and Targhalline. Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, and seven other 2022 semifinalists make the 26-man list.


Only eight players from Morocco’s 2022 semifinal team return. Ouahbi’s squad faces Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in Group C, starting June 14th against Brazil...


Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has announced his 26-player squad for the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The 2022 semifinalists will head to the tournament without forwards Youssef En-Nesyri and Yahia El Karouani.


Ouahbi took over from Walid Regragui in March and finalized his roster after a brief training camp with players fighting for a spot.


Ouahbi picked key players including PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, who is working his way back from a thigh injury picked up in the Champions League semifinal first leg against Bayern. Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz also made the squad after missing a penalty in January’s Africa Cup of Nations final.


There was no place for Eredivisie standouts Souffian El Karouani of FC Utrecht and Oussama Targhalline of Feyenoord. El Karouani finished second in the league with 12 assists, while Targhalline helped Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord finish second after establishing himself in both midfield and defense.




Only eight players from the squad that finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup were included by Ouahbi. One notable omission is Al-Ittihad striker Youssef En-Nesyri, who scored two decisive goals during Morocco’s historic 2022 run in Qatar when they became the first African side to reach the World Cup semifinals.


As reigning AFCON champions, Morocco were drawn into Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. The Atlas Lions open their tournament on Sunday, June 14th, against Brazil.



 Full Squad

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (Berkane), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Asfar)


Defenders: Nayef Aguerd (Marseille), Youssef Belammari (Al Ahly), Issa Diop (Fulham), Zakaria El Ouahdi (Genk), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV, on loan from Roma)


Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (Roma), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Ismael Saibari (PSV)


Forwards: Ayoube Amaimouni (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Yassine Gessime (Strasbourg), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland)

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