Morocco's National Team Gears Up for the 2026 World Cup

As the anticipation builds for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to kick off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Morocco's national team is preparing to make its mark once again. Having made history as the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, expectations are high for the Lions of the Atlas. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who has taken over from Walid Regragui, has released the list of players selected for the pre-tournament training camp. It is essential to note that this is not the final roster, as the ultimate selection will be revealed shortly after the training camp concludes.

Selected Players for the Pre-World Cup Training Camp

The training camp will culminate in a friendly match against Burundi on May 26, and it includes a mix of seasoned players and emerging talents. Among the notable absentees are key players who are either resting or engaged in club commitments, such as Achraf Hakimi from PSG. The following players have been selected for the camp:

  • Goalkeepers: El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja Club Athletic), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Yanis Benchaouch (AS Monaco), Ibrahim Gomis (OM)
  • Defenders: Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Ismaël Baouf (SC Cambuur), Anass Salah-Eddine (AS Roma), Marwane Saadane (Al-Fateh), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids), Soufiane Bouftini (Al Wasl), Souffian El Karouani (Utrecht)
  • Midfielders: Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord), Imran Louza (Watford), Samir El-Mourabet (Strasbourg), Rayane Bounida (Ajax Amsterdam), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Soufiane El-Faouzi (Schalke), Youssef Belammari (Al-Ahly)
  • Forwards: Sofiane Boufal (Le Havre), Gessime Yassine (Strasbourg), Yassir Zabiri (Stade Rennais), Othmane Maamma (Watford), Soufiane Benjdida (MAS Fès), Yanis Begraoui (Estoril), Tawfik Bentayeb (Troyes), Ayoube Amaimouni (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos)

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi is tasked with leading this talented group as they prepare to face tough competition in Group C, which includes Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. Morocco's matches in the group stage will kick off with a challenging encounter against Brazil on June 14, followed by a clash with Scotland on June 20, and concluding against Haiti on June 25.

As reported by africaradio.com.