Morocco could reach the semi-finals at the 2026 World Cup, building on their historic 2022 campaign with greater maturity and cohesion.
The core of the 2022 squad remains intact. Yassine Bounou is expected to stay first choice in goal, reportedly in excellent form. Defensively, Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saïss offer stability, while Achraf Hakimi and Adam Masloula provide width and experience.
In midfield, Soufiane Amrabat remains the anchor, with Azzedine Ounahi developing into a box-to-box force. The squad depth includes young talents like Bilal El Khannouss and Ilyass Saddik, believed to be among the top performers this season.
Manager Walid Regragui is expected to stick with a disciplined 4-2-3-1. The back four is compact, with Hakimi making lung-busting runs forward.
Ziyech operates as a false nine or free-roaming playmaker, supported by the energy of Abdelhamid Sabiri and the flair of Sofiane Boufal. En-Nesyri leads the line, tasked with converting rare chances.
Hakim Ziyech is widely regarded as one of the best playmakers in the squad. His chemistry with En-Nesyri could define their attack.
Amrabat’s fitness is crucial. If he’s unavailable, Morocco lacks a natural replacement with the same defensive intelligence. Bounou’s ability to keep clean sheets will also be tested against elite forwards.
Reaching the last eight would be a major achievement. But with favourable draws and peak performances, semi-final football is not out of reach.
"They don’t need to win every game — just never lose belief." — a senior analyst on Morocco’s 2022 run.
Their discipline, unity, and counter-attacking efficiency give them a real shot. But advancing further requires avoiding early clashes with powerhouses like Brazil or France.
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