Morocco national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi will officially announce the final 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday, May 26, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora.
The announcement will come after a closed-door friendly match against Burundi, marking the final evaluation stage before the Lions of the Atlas depart for the United States on June 3.
Final World Cup Squad Announcement Scheduled
The Moroccan Football Federation confirmed that Mohamed Ouahbi will hold a press conference at 8:00 PM following Morocco’s preparation match against Burundi.
The conference concludes a five-day training camp that began on May 22 and brought together 28 players competing for places in the final World Cup squad.
The gathering represents Ouahbi’s final opportunity to assess player form, fitness, and tactical balance ahead of the tournament.
Amine Sbai Receives First Senior Call-Up
One of the notable additions during the training camp was Amine Sbai, the Angers SCO winger who received his first-ever call-up to Morocco’s senior national team.
The pre-tournament camp combines experienced internationals with young talents emerging from Morocco’s highly successful youth system.
The squad includes several established players such as:
- Ismael Saibari
- Sofiane Boufal
- Ayoub El Kaabi
Morocco’s U20 World Champions Join the Squad
The training camp also features multiple players from Morocco’s U20 team that won the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile in October 2025.
Among the most closely watched names is Othmane Maamma, who was named best player of the tournament during Morocco’s historic youth world title run.
The integration of young players reflects Morocco’s long-term strategy of building continuity between youth development and the senior national team.
Ayyoub Bouaddi Among the Most Anticipated Players
One of the major attractions of the camp is the presence of Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Lille midfielder recently authorized by FIFA to represent Morocco internationally.
The highly rated teenager is considered one of the most promising young midfielders in European football.
His potential inclusion in the final World Cup squad has generated strong excitement among Moroccan supporters.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s First World Cup as Senior Coach
The 2026 tournament will mark Mohamed Ouahbi’s first FIFA World Cup as head coach of Morocco’s senior national team.
The 49-year-old coach replaced Walid Regragui on March 5, 2026, after guiding Morocco’s U20 national team to world championship success.
Ouahbi is widely viewed as one of the key architects of Morocco’s new football generation.
Final Preparation Matches Before Departure
After announcing the final squad, Morocco will continue preparations with two friendly matches before traveling to the United States.
The Lions of the Atlas will face:
- Madagascar — June 2 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat
- Norway — June 7 at Red Bull Arena in New York
The match against Madagascar will be Morocco’s final game on home soil before the team departs for North America.
Morocco’s Base Camp in New Jersey
During the tournament, Morocco will establish its base camp at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
The facility will serve as the national team’s training and preparation center throughout the group stage of the competition.
Thousands of Moroccan supporters are expected to travel to the United States to follow the team during the tournament.
Morocco Drawn Into a Difficult Group
Morocco will compete in Group C of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Lions of the Atlas will face:
- Brazil — June 13 at MetLife Stadium
- Scotland — June 19 in Boston
- Haiti — June 24 in Atlanta
The opening match against Brazil is already among the most demanded fixtures of the tournament according to FIFA ticket request data.
World Cup 2026 Expected to Be Historic for Morocco
Following Morocco’s recent international success and growing global reputation, expectations surrounding the national team remain extremely high ahead of World Cup 2026.
The tournament will feature:
- 48 national teams
- 104 matches
- 16 host cities
- Three host countries
The FIFA World Cup 2026 begins on June 11 in Mexico City and concludes on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
