In July 2025, during a conversation at the Milderer Hof Hotel in Neustift im Stubaital, this publication had the opportunity to speak with Soufiane El-Faouzi about the upcoming season. At that moment, the topic unexpectedly shifted to the Moroccan national team, a prospect that seemed distant as El-Faouzi had just transitioned from Alemannia Aachen, a third-division club, to FC Schalke 04, a team grappling with relegation fears in the second division. The thought of the 2026 FIFA World Cup felt far removed from his current situation. El-Faouzi expressed optimism, stating, "Nothing is impossible. If the federation were to reach out to me, I would be thrilled. It would be fantastic to play for Morocco. I still have a lot of family in the northern part of the country and have visited there frequently." Now, that dream is closer to reality as the federation has made contact.
At Schalke, who claimed the second division title, El-Faouzi emerged as one of the key players. He was the only player to feature in the starting lineup for all 36 competitive matches, scoring two goals and assisting on five others. No other player in the second division logged more distance than El-Faouzi, who excelled in intense running. His prowess made him an ideal fit for the aggressive pressing style implemented by coach Miron Muslic.
El-Faouzi now has the opportunity to try out for the national team ahead of the World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. From May 22 to 26, a short training camp will be held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, adjacent to Rabat, culminating in a friendly match against Burundi on May 26. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi, like all other World Cup coaches, must announce his final squad by June 1. Competition in the midfield is fierce, with the provisional squad including notable players such as Oussama Targhalline from Feyenoord Rotterdam, valued at 12 million euros, Ayyoub Bouaddi from LOSC Lille, valued at 50 million euros, Samir El Mourabet from Strasbourg, valued at 18 million euros, and Imran Louza from FC Watford, valued at 14 million euros. Morocco made headlines as a semi-finalist in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and is the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champion. Their opponents in the World Cup group stage will be Brazil on June 13, Scotland on June 19, and Haiti on June 24.
Furthermore, El-Faouzi is firmly integrated into Schalke's plans for the forthcoming Bundesliga season. The 23-year-old is under contract until 2029 without a release clause, meaning that any club looking to buy him out would need to invest significantly. Sporting director Frank Baumann emphasized on Wednesday that Schalke is under no obligation to sell at any cost, declaring, "We can also say no."
As reported by waz.de.
