RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain standout Achraf Hakimi was among nine players selected for Morocco’s history-making 2022 World Cup squad on Tuesday. 2026 North American Games.
Morocco national team coach Mohamed Ouabi Recruitment limited to Marchloomed large over the country’s diaspora, with the majority of the 26 players he selected born in Europe.
Ouabi himself was born in Belgium, but Hakimi Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz is one of five Spanish-born players on the team whose family ties qualify them for Morocco.
Three members of the Moroccan squad – Fulham defenders Issa DiopPSV Eindhoven defender Anas Salah-Edin and 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouadi — A change in national qualification has been approved by FIFA within the past nine months. Dias previously represented Spain and has been playing for Morocco since 2024.
Morocco is based in New Jersey and will face Brazil on June 13th in East Rutherford. Morocco will then face Scotland in Massachusetts before completing Group C on June 24th against Haiti in Atlanta. The top two teams in the standings will advance directly to the Round of 16, with the third-place team also potentially advancing.
At the 2022 World Cup, Morocco, coached by Walid Legulagui, caused a surprise by becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals.
Morocco topped the group ahead of Croatia and Belgium, before shockingly eliminating Spain. Portugal In the final tournament before the injury-hit team lost to France.
Goalkeeper Yassin Bounou, who performed well in Qatar, will return to his third World Cup at the age of 35.
For now, Morocco will go to the United States as African champions. The title awarded in the lawsuit could be lost by Senegal in the coming months at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. called for regaining victory He won on a field in Morocco in January.
After losing to Senegal in the final four months ago, Reglagui resigned and was replaced by Ouabi, who led Morocco to victory at the Under-20 World Cup last year. The team that defeated Argentina in the final also included Strasbourg forward Cessim Yassin, who was re-nominated by Ujabi on Tuesday.
Morocco will participate in the 2030 World Cup as co-hosts with Spain and Portugal, as well as one game each against South American neighbors Argentina, which hosted the tournament in 1930, Paraguay and Uruguay.
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Morocco
Goalkeepers: Yassin Bounou (Al Hilal), Mounir El Kajoy (RS Berkan), Ahmed Reda Taghnauti (AS FAR)
Defenders: Nousser Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anas Salah Eddin (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Beranmari (Al Ahly), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Zakaria El Ouadi (Genk), Nayef Agelud (Marseille), Chadi Riyad (Crystal Palace), Redouan Halhar (Mechelen), Issa Diop (Fulham)
Midfielders: Samir El Mhrabe (Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouadi (Lille), Neil El Anaoui (Roma), Sofian Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Unahi (Girona), Bilal El Cannous (Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Abdessamad Ezarzouri (Real Betis), Kemsuddin Talbi (Sunderland), Sufian Rahimi (Al Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos), Brahim Dias (Real Madrid), Jessim Yassin (Strasbourg), Ayoub Amaimoni-Ekghouyabe (Eintracht Frankfurt)
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
