Morocco return to the World Cup as Africa’s standard-bearers, backed by an 89% model probability to qualify from Group C — and a genuine chance to repeat their 2022 semi-final heroics.
When Morocco reached the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar 2022 — becoming the first African and Arab nation in history to do so — it changed the conversation about what an African team could achieve on the global stage. Four years on, the Atlas Lions arrive in North America with new ambitions, a refreshed squad and Opta giving them an 89% probability of qualifying from Group C. Morocco are not just Africa’s most likely team to go deep in 2026 — they are a legitimate dark horse for the entire tournament.
The squad is different to 2022: Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal are all absent, left out by new coach Mohamed Ouahbi. But Achraf Hakimi remains the captain and X-factor, Brahim Díaz has developed into a tournament-level performer, and the qualifying record speaks for itself: eight wins from eight, 22 goals scored, just two conceded. This is the complete Morocco World Cup 2026 squad guide.
New head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who replaced Walid Regragui in March 2026 after leading Morocco’s U-20s to a World Cup title in 2025, named a youthful but technically outstanding squad.
| Name | Position | Club |
|——|———-|——|
| Yassine Bounou | GK | Al-Hilal |
| Munir El Kajoui | GK | RS Berkane |
| Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti | GK | AS FAR |
| Achraf Hakimi | DF | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Noussair Mazraoui | DF | Manchester United |
| Nayef Aguerd | DF | Marseille |
| Issa Diop | DF | Fulham |
| Chadi Riad | DF | Crystal Palace |
| Youssef Belammari | DF | Al Ahly |
| Zakaria El Ouahdi | DF | Genk |
| Redouane Halhal | DF | KV Mechelen |
| Anass Salah-Eddine | DF | PSV |
| Sofyan Amrabat | MF | Real Betis |
| Azzedine Ounahi | MF | Girona |
| Bilal El Khannouss | MF | Stuttgart |
| Samir El Mourabet | MF | Strasbourg |
| Ayyoub Bouaddi | MF | Lille |
| Neil El Aynaoui | MF | Roma |
| Ismael Saibari | MF | PSV |
| Brahim Díaz | FW | Real Madrid |
| Ayoub El Kaabi | FW | Olympiacos |
| Abde Ezzalzouli | FW | Real Betis |
| Soufiane Rahimi | FW | Al-Ain |
| Chemsdine Talbi | FW | Sunderland |
| Ayoube Amaimouni | FW | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| Yassine Gessime | FW | Strasbourg |
Notable absentees from the 2022 semi-final squad: Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal, Jawad El Yamiq and Achraf Dari have all been left out by Ouahbi, making way for a younger, more dynamic generation.
Morocco are in Group C with Brazil, Scotland and Haiti. The draw is fascinating — on paper Brazil are the favourites, but Morocco have every reason to believe they can top the group.
| Match | Date | Venue | WAT Kick-Off |
|——-|——|——-|————-|
| Brazil vs Morocco | Sat 13 June | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | 23:00 |
| Scotland vs Morocco | Fri 19 June | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 23:00 |
| Morocco vs Haiti | Wed 24 June | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 23:00 |
The opener against Brazil on June 13 is the defining fixture of Morocco’s group stage. Win it, or take a draw, and the path to topping Group C becomes very realistic — Scotland and Haiti are both beatable. Even a narrow defeat to Brazil leaves Morocco in a strong position if they manage results against the two weaker sides.
Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Right-back/Wing-back) — Morocco’s captain and the best full-back in African football. Hakimi is elite in both phases — dangerous with the ball in wide areas, disciplined without it. He led Morocco in assists during qualifying and is the player who unlocks the Atlas Lions at their best. In 2022 his runs down the right gave Spain and Portugal nightmares; expect more of the same in 2026.
Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid, Attacking Midfielder/Winger) — The creative hub of Morocco’s attack and their most technically gifted player. Díaz has grown into a true leader for the Atlas Lions after originally representing Spain at youth level. His ability to carry the ball in tight spaces, play through lines and produce goals and assists in big games makes him central to everything Morocco do offensively.
Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos, Striker) — Morocco’s top scorer in African qualifying with four goals. El Kaabi is a classic penalty-box finisher — strong in the air, clinical from close range and a genuine set-piece threat. Without En-Nesyri, he carries the responsibility of being Morocco’s focal point up front.
Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis, Defensive Midfielder) — The tactical anchor. Amrabat screens the back four, wins the ball and enables Hakimi’s forward runs by covering the right side when the full-back pushes up. His role in 2022 was widely praised across Europe — Hakimi simply cannot function at his best without Amrabat behind him.
Ismael Saibari (PSV, Midfielder) — Fresh off his best ever club season with PSV, Saibari has established himself as a high-level box-to-box performer. Alongside the experienced Ounahi and the emerging El Khannouss, Morocco’s midfield has the quality to compete with anyone at the tournament.
Mohamed Ouahbi replaced Walid Regragui in March 2026, bringing a more offensive, possession-oriented approach after leading Morocco’s youth teams. His senior setup is a 4-2-3-1 that shifts to 4-1-4-1 in possession, with an organised mid-block and fast transitions through Hakimi and the wide forwards. The system is built on defensive solidity first — Morocco conceded only two goals in eight qualifying games — with the attacking threat coming from quick transitions, individual quality and set-piece delivery. The biggest risk is chance creation against deep, organised defences, where Morocco can be over-reliant on moments of individual brilliance from Díaz or Hakimi.
Key difference in 2026: several stars of that 2022 run are absent. But the core structure, defensive organisation and Hakimi’s leadership remain. Morocco are capable of matching that performance under Ouahbi.
Morocco have the best odds of any African nation to qualify from their group — Opta puts them at 89% to progress. In Group C with Brazil, Scotland and Haiti, this assessment is correct: only Brazil are clearly superior. Scotland are competitive but limited, and Haiti are the minnows of the group. Morocco to qualify from Group C is a near-certainty play and should be the foundation of any African World Cup betting portfolio.
Best betting angles:
Morocco to qualify from Group C — Effectively a banker. Available at around 1.25-1.40. Consider combining with other selections in an accumulator.
Morocco to win Group C — Brazil are clear favourites to top the section, but Morocco’s 89% qualification probability and 28% group-winning probability (per Opta) make a Moroccan group win far from impossible. At around 3.50-4.50 to top the group, this represents real value if Brazil struggle in the opener.
Morocco to reach the quarter-finals — At prices around 2.50-3.50, Morocco to reach the last eight is a well-priced medium-term bet. They have the system, the squad and the tournament experience to beat any knockout opponent they face in the first two rounds.
Hakimi assists — Bookmakers frequently undervalue full-back assists. If your platform offers tournament assists markets, Hakimi’s output in qualifying (he led Morocco in assists) makes him worth including.
Compare odds across our recommended Nigerian bookmakers for the best prices on all Morocco markets.
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The loss of Ziyech and En-Nesyri is significant. But the emergence of Díaz, El Khannouss, Saibari and Talbi as world-class talents means this is not simply a lesser version of 2022 — it is a different Morocco with different tools. The 2022 side was built on collective effort and the crowd’s energy in Doha. The 2026 side is built on technical quality and genuine individual brilliance throughout the squad. Opta gives Morocco an 18% chance of reaching the quarter-finals — the highest of any African team. They may not have the same fairytale energy of 2022, but Morocco in 2026 are a serious football team. Back them to reach the last eight and enjoy the ride.
Responsible gambling: Betting should be for entertainment only. Only bet what you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you, contact the NLRC helpline.
