FIFA Greenlights Diop's Inclusion in Moroccan Squad
In a significant development for Moroccan football, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has officially sanctioned the inclusion of Fulham defender Issa Diop and Ajax midfielder Ryan Bouhida into the Moroccan national team. This move is part of a broader effort to bolster the squad ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. With these latest additions, the total count of players who have joined the Moroccan national team since March has now reached 16.
29-year-old Diop, who previously represented France at youth and U21 levels, brings valuable experience to the team. In contrast, Bouhida is among six players under the age of 20 who have recently opted to switch their sporting nationality to Morocco after having participated in youth matches for Belgium or the Netherlands. The ability to change national representation is facilitated by FIFA rules, which allow players with direct family connections to a country to represent that nation, provided they have not yet played in a senior competitive match for their original country.
This strategic reinforcement of the Moroccan squad comes on the heels of their remarkable performance in the 2022 World Cup, where they reached the semifinals, marking a historic achievement for the nation. The inclusion of players like Diop and Bouhida is expected to enhance the team's competitiveness as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup, aiming to build on their past successes and potentially exceed previous accomplishments.
As reported by alarabiya.net.
