Morocco heads to North America for the 2026 World Cup with high ambitions, hoping to replicate their success from Qatar 2022, where they reached the semi-finals. The team possesses even better pedigree than they did at the last tournament. They hope history can repeat itself.
New Coach Faces Immediate Pressure
Just as in 2022, Morocco recently sacked their head coach. Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco to victory at the Under-20 World Cup last year, took over from Walid Regragui in March. This change means the Atlas Lions won’t have much time to adjust to Ouahbi’s tactics and philosophy.
In late March, Morocco showed signs of improvement under Ouahbi, drawing 1-1 against Ecuador and beating Paraguay 2-1. Ouahbi favours a 4-2-3-1 formation that can shift into a 4-2-2-2, creating space for Achraf Hakimi on the right flank.
Living Up to Expectations
The biggest challenge for Morocco will be meeting the raised expectations. Their unexpected deep run in 2022 has elevated their status. Now ranked eighth in the world, the pressure will be constant.
Ouahbi acknowledged the weight of expectation upon his unveiling. “I am aware of the expectations, but very honoured,” he said. “I am committed to working with seriousness, humility and determination and also a lot of patriotism to continue on the path of progression of this team.”
Afcon Final Trauma
Morocco has already achieved significant milestones, including reaching the World Cup semi-final and a top-10 world ranking. However, the team experienced a bizarre episode in the Afcon final in January. Senegal’s players protested a penalty awarded to Morocco, and after a delay, Brahim Díaz missed his Panenka spot-kick, leading to a 1-0 victory for Senegal.
Two months later, the Confederation of African Football, Caf, awarded the title to Morocco. Senegal have appealed to the court of arbitration for sport. Ouahbi addressed the impact of the final: “We all lived a trauma as Moroccans. That final was a difficult moment, but I think what matters the most is continuity,” he said, meaning performing as well as, or better than, they did in Qatar.
Morocco’s group stage matches in the 2026 World Cup are:
- 13 June v Brazil, New York
- 19 June v Scotland, Boston
- 24 June v Haiti, Atlanta
Born in Brussels, Mohamed Ouahbi initially pursued a career in education. His early experiences as a teacher led him to local club Maccabi Foot Brussels (MFB).