Morocco named Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz in their World Cup squad, but Youssef En-Nesyri was left out by coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
Morocco have confirmed their 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz leading the Atlas Lions into the tournament. However, experienced striker Youssef En-Nesyri was surprisingly left out by head coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
The Moroccan squad mixes established international stars with several emerging names. Morocco will head to North America hoping to build on their historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar.
Hakimi’s inclusion had initially been uncertain after the Paris Saint-Germain defender suffered an injury during the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern Munich. The 27-year-old has not played since the first leg on 28 April. Despite the setback, the Morocco captain recently returned to training ahead of PSG’s Champions League final against Arsenal. Ouahbi clearly believes Hakimi will recover in time for the World Cup.
Hakimi remains Morocco’s most influential player and already has 95 international caps. His pace, attacking quality and leadership are expected to be vital once again for the Atlas Lions. Another important defensive inclusion was Nayef Aguerd. The Marseille centre-back has not played since March because of injury but was still selected as Morocco monitor his recovery closely.
The biggest talking point from the squad announcement was the omission of En-Nesyri. The striker played a key role in Morocco’s run to the World Cup semi-finals four years ago and scored the winner against Portugal in Qatar.
Former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech was also excluded from the squad. Both players were central figures under former coach Walid Regragui, but Ouahbi has opted for a younger and more dynamic attacking group. Morocco instead placed their faith in players such as Brahim Diaz, Soufiane Rahimi and Ayoub El Kaabi. Diaz arrives after another strong season with Real Madrid and is expected to become one of the team’s main creative outlets.
Sunderland winger Chemsdine Talbi and uncapped Eintracht Frankfurt forward Ayoub Amaimouni-Echghouyabe were also included. Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi earned his first major tournament call-up after switching allegiance from France.
Morocco qualified impressively for the World Cup after winning all eight matches in their CAF qualifying group. They collected 24 points and finished with a perfect record against Niger, Tanzania, Zambia, Congo and Eritrea.
The Atlas Lions are currently ranked eighth in the world and remain one of Africa’s strongest national teams. Their compact defensive structure and quick transitions continue to define their style. Premier League representation remains strong in the squad. Noussair Mazraoui, Chadi Riad and Issa Diop were all selected, while Sofyan Amrabat and Bilal El Khannouss add further European experience in midfield.
Morocco open their Group C campaign against Brazil in New Jersey on 13 June. They then face Scotland in Boston before concluding the group stage against Haiti in Atlanta on 24 June. The clash against Brazil is expected to test Morocco immediately. However, confidence remains high after the nation became the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022. Ouahbi now faces the challenge of proving Morocco’s remarkable rise was not a one-off achievement. Much will depend on whether Hakimi and Aguerd can regain full fitness before the tournament begins.
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 (Fulham), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-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)
