Morocco World Cup 2026: Can Brahim help AFCON champs to dream?

Morocco travel to the 2026 World Cup on the back of a controversial victory in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lions were beaten 1-0 on the day by Senegal, after extra-time. But retroactively, Senegal’s decision to walk off the pitch in protest at refereeing decisions saw the result voided and changed to a 3-0 Morocco win. 

New head coach Mohamed Ouahbi took over in March from departing boss Walid Regragui. They are huge shoes to fill, as Regragui took this team further than any African nation at the last World Cup, reaching the semi-finals. Read on for my Morocco 2026 World Cup preview as we dig into whether they can do it again.

Morocco World Cup 2026 Squad

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir Mohamedi (RS Berkane), Ahmed Tagnaouti (Royal Armed Forces) 

Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al Ahly), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Issa Diop (West Ham United), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (Genk) 

Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven) 

Forwards: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Yassine Gessime (Strasbourg), Ayoub Amaimouni-Echghouyabe (Eintracht Frankfurt)

World Cup Odds

Morocco have enjoyed a huge run in recent times, reaching the last four of the 2022 tournament, winning the AFCON and qualifying for this year’s World Cup. But those historic achievements arrived under the departed Regragui. Now former under-23s coach Ouahbi must step under football’s biggest spotlight.

He has talent at his disposal, that’s for sure. Stuttgart midfield orchestrator Bilal El Khannouss can pull the strings. The defence boasts experience and quality with Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd along with Champions League winner Achraf Hakimi.

Premier League fans will recognise former Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat, now of Real Betis, in the Morocco midfield. His club teammate Abdessamad Ezzalzouli travels after enjoying his best scoring season in La Liga.

The shadow of 2022 is a long one to shift, but there are some top players in this group.

Group C Fixtures

13 June 6:00pm Local (11pm BST) - vs Brazil (New Jersey)

19 June 6:00pm Local (11pm BST) - vs Scotland (Boston)

24 June 6:00pm Local (11pm BST) - vs Haiti (Atlanta)

Key Player: Brahim Diaz

A tough season at club level masks the impact this former Manchester City youth product can have for his country. While playing for a rudderless Real Madrid this season saw him finish goalless in La Liga, it is in the colours of the Atlas Lions where the 26-year-old excels.

Diaz finished as Morocco’s top scorer in their ultimately successful AFCON campaign, bagging five goals in seven outings. Diaz is also a potent creative outlet, having registered six Real assists in a season in which he only started 13 league games. 

Diaz is an impact player and, unlike Los Blancos and their ‘Avengers Assemble’ excess, he is very much the star of the show for Morocco. Build your team around Brahim and he will reward you with inventive attacking output.

Football Odds

Prediction: Round of 16

The pressure is on for Morocco. They have a lot to live up to after four years of success bridging the 2022 semis with the 2026 tournament. The group holds little fear I imagine. Brazil are the only team to out-class them man-for-man and the Selecao can be got at. Scotland are a tough proposition but Morocco have more seasoned campaigners at this level. Haiti? Yep, they’re there as well.

Beyond the group, it is hard to predict how Morocco will do under Ouahbi. He sets up in a 4-2-3-1 and has drawn more than he has won or lost so far. Friendlies have little bearing on the tournament proper, of course. But the World Cup is no place for a man still getting a handle on his team. A creditable display but nothing more for the Moroccans.