Morocco's World Cup Squad Has a Secret Weapon: Europe

Achraf Hakimi, the guy who usually defends for Paris Saint-Germain, is heading back to the World Cup. He's one of nine familiar faces from Morocco's history-making 2022 squad, all set to hit North America for the 2026 tournament.

But here's the kicker: Morocco's new coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, who took the reins in March, has assembled a squad that looks less like a national team and more like a carefully curated European all-star roster. Of the 26 players he picked, most were born in Europe.

Ouahbi himself hails from Belgium. And five players, including Hakimi and Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, were born in Spain. Their family trees, it turns out, are perfectly aligned for them to play for Morocco. Because apparently that's where we are now: tracing eligibility through ancestry, not just birthplace.

Some players even needed FIFA's official blessing to switch allegiances. Fulham's Issa Diop, PSV Eindhoven's Anass Salah-Eddine, and Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi all recently got the green light. Diaz, who previously played for Spain, has been an Atlas Lion since 2024. Talk about a glow-up.

From Qatar Heroes to North American Hopefuls

Morocco will be kicking things off in New Jersey, which sounds less exotic than Qatar, but still. Their first match is against Brazil on June 13 in East Rutherford. Then it's off to Massachusetts to face Scotland, before wrapping up Group C against Haiti in Atlanta on June 24. The top two teams get a golden ticket to the Round of 16, with a few third-place teams potentially sneaking in.

Remember 2022? Morocco became the first African team ever to reach the semifinals, coached by the legendary Walid Regragui. They topped their group, knocking out Croatia and Belgium, then sent Spain and Portugal packing in the knockout rounds. An injury-riddled team eventually fell to France, but not before etching their name in history. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, 35 and returning for his third World Cup, was a huge part of that run.

Now, about that "African champion" title Morocco currently holds. It's complicated. A legal spat awarded it to them, but Senegal is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to get it back. So, Morocco might be entering the tournament as champion, or they might not. Always good to keep things interesting.

Regragui, after losing the final to Senegal four months ago, stepped down. Ouahbi, his replacement, has some serious credentials, having led Morocco to the Under-20 World Cup title last year, beating Argentina in the final. Strasbourg forward Gessime Yassine, a star of that U20 squad, is now on the senior team. A coach who promotes from within? Refreshing.

And just for good measure, Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will each get one honorary game, a nod to Uruguay hosting the very first tournament in 1930. Because apparently, sharing is caring, especially when it comes to global sporting events.

The Atlas Lions Roster

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (AS FAR)

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

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 (Olympiakos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Gessime Yassine (Strasbourg), Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyabe (Eintracht Frankfurt)