Zakaria El Ouahdi Successfully Joins Morocco's Squad After Visa Issues
Zakaria El Ouahdi, the talented left-back for KRC Genk, recently faced a significant hurdle that nearly derailed his opportunity to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Having had an impressive season with his club, El Ouahdi was selected by coach Mohamed Ouahbi to represent Morocco in what would mark his first major tournament with the national team. However, complications arose when he was unable to secure his visa in time to travel with the team to the United States, where Morocco will be based during the tournament.
The situation was particularly concerning, as El Ouahdi had been denied a visa on two separate occasions. This led to coach Ouahbi making alternative arrangements by bringing along Ali Maamar, a player from RSC Anderlecht, to the U.S. Maamar had already participated in a friendly match against Madagascar, gaining valuable experience with the national team.
Fortunately, on Thursday, news broke that El Ouahdi had finally resolved his visa issues and was able to board a flight to New York. The player's father provided clarity on the situation, stating that they had endured a stressful few days. The resolution came after El Ouahdi was required to fill out a new application form, which meticulously confirmed all the countries he had visited recently. Given his extensive travel for both international duties and participation in the Europa League, this process involved a considerable number of destinations. Thankfully, the situation was sorted out just in time, with El Ouahdi only experiencing a one-day delay in joining his teammates.
Furthermore, it has been reported that discussions were held between the Moroccan football federation and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to facilitate the resolution of El Ouahdi's visa complications. As Morocco prepares for Group C of the World Cup, where they will compete against Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, the timely arrival of El Ouahdi is a relief for both the team and its supporters.
As reported by walfoot.be.
