2026 World Cup Preview: Morocco’s Squad Analysis and Quarter-Final Ambitions

2026 World Cup Preview: Analyzing Morocco’s Strength and Their Dream of the Quarter-Finals

The Morocco national football team, founded in 1955, has reached the World Cup finals six times and is currently ranked 11th in the world. The team is led by head coach Mohamed Wahbi, with Achraf Hakimi serving as the current captain. Morocco’s first match of this World Cup will be against Brazil on June 14, and the squad is widely expected to push for a spot in the quarter-finals.

The Head Coach

Mohamed Wahbi took over as the head coach of the Morocco national team on March 5, 2026. Wahbi brings 17 years of experience in youth development, having coached at Anderlecht (youth and B teams) and the Monaco U20 and U23 squads. In 2025, he famously led the Morocco U20 team to a U20 World Cup title.

Forwards

Projected Squad: Brahim Díaz, Ilias Akhomach, Shaqueel van Persie (Talebi), Youssef En-Nesyri, Ayoub El Kaabi, Soufiane Rahimi, Ez Abde, Eliesse Ben Seghir.

The Moroccan frontline is brimming with talent this year, featuring goal-scorers from giants in Real Madrid, La Liga, and the Turkish Süper Lig.
Brahim Díaz: Of Spanish descent and a key rotation player for Real Madrid, Díaz is a naturalised star who fully established himself as Morocco’s talisman after the 2024 Copa América. A dribbling maestro with a low centre of gravity, he excels in tight spaces and is responsible for tearing through opposition defences.

Midfielders

Projected Squad: Oussama Targhalline, Sofyan Amrabat, Ismael Saibari, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss, Azzedine Ounahi.

The midfield offers a blend of grit, technique, and creativity, though depth remains a slight concern.
Sofyan Amrabat: The defensive anchor. Now at Fenerbahçe, his work rate and tackling ability allow the creative players to push forward.

Defenders

Projected Squad: Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Chibi, Jawad El Yamiq, Romain Saïss, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Nayef Aguerd, Noussair Mazraoui, Zakaria Salah-Eddine.

Morocco’s backline is world-class, characterised by "flying wings" and a tall, agile central core.
Achraf Hakimi: One of the world's best right-backs and the leader of the team. The PSG star combines top-tier speed with precise crossing and defensive recovery.

Goalkeepers

Projected Squad: Munir Mohamedi, Yassine Bounou (Bono), Mehdi Harrar.
Yassine Bounou: The undisputed No. 1 and Al-Hilal star. A hero of the 2022 World Cup, his reflexes and penalty-saving abilities make him the "God of Stability" for the Moroccan defence.