Morocco National Football Team Guide 2026

GUIDES · MOROCCO

The Morocco national football team, the Atlas Lions, reached the World Cup quarter-finals in the United States in July 2026. It was their second straight run to the last eight, after a semi-final in Qatar in 2022.

For US fans, Morocco is now a fixture of the global game rather than a surprise. This guide covers the coach, the players and the FIFA ranking as of October 2026.

It also explains the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, the 2030 World Cup and how to follow the team from America.

Who Coaches the Morocco National Football Team

Mohamed Ouahbi has led the senior side since March 2026. CAF, the African football confederation, reported on 6 March that the FRMF accepted Walid Regragui’s resignation and named Ouahbi as his successor.

Regragui had been in charge since August 2022. Under him, Morocco became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final.

It lost 2-0 to France on Wednesday, 14 December 2022, and finished fourth.

Ouahbi had never managed a senior national team before. His credential is youth football.

His Morocco side won the Under-20 World Cup in Chile, beating Argentina 2-0 in Santiago on 19 October 2025, per FIFA.

He has leaned on that generation since the World Cup. His first squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers in September 2026 included three uncapped players, among them 17-year-old forward Abdellah Ouazane.

Key Players to Know in October 2026

The core of the team has stayed together since the World Cup, with younger players added around it. These are the names a US viewer will hear most, based on the 29-man squad Ouahbi named on 17 September 2026.

• Achraf Hakimi, captain and right-back for Paris Saint-Germain. He scored against Haiti at the World Cup.
• Yassine Bounou, the senior goalkeeper. He started for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup and was named again in September.
• Ismael Saibari, attacking midfielder and Morocco’s top scorer at the 2026 World Cup with three goals, all in the group stage.
• Azzedine Ounahi, midfielder. He scored twice in the 3-0 win over Canada and again in the September qualifier in Lesotho.
• Brahim Díaz, Real Madrid forward. He scored against Lesotho in September 2026.
• Soufiane Rahimi, forward, with goals against Haiti, Canada and Gabon in 2026.
• Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd and Issa Diop, the defensive spine. Diop’s stoppage-time goal forced extra time against the Netherlands.
• Rising names: Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Yassine Gessime, Yassir Zabiri of Racing Santander and Soufian El Faouzi of Schalke 04.

CAF described the September squad as a mix of youth and experience, retaining much of the established core. Qualifiers and friendlies are where the newcomers get their minutes.

Morocco at the 2026 World Cup

Morocco played all six matches in the United States and Mexico. FIFA’s official match data gives the full record, with kick-off times in US Eastern Time.

• Saturday, 13 June: Brazil 1-1 Morocco, New York/New Jersey Stadium, 6 p.m. ET. Saibari scored after 21 minutes; Vinicius Junior equalised.
• Friday, 19 June: Scotland 0-1 Morocco, Boston Stadium. Saibari scored in the second minute.
• Wednesday, 24 June: Morocco 4-2 Haiti, Atlanta Stadium. Hakimi, Saibari, Rahimi and Gessime scored.
• Monday, 29 June: Netherlands 1-1 Morocco in the round of 32, Monterrey. Morocco won the shoot-out 3-2.
• Saturday, 4 July: Canada 0-3 Morocco in the round of 16, Houston. Ounahi scored twice and Rahimi added a third.
• Thursday, 9 July: France 2-0 Morocco in the quarter-final, Boston. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored six minutes apart.

Morocco finished second in Group C on seven points, level with Brazil, who topped it on goal difference. Scotland were third and Haiti fourth.

The run ended one round earlier than in 2022, but it confirmed a new floor. Spain went on to win the tournament, beating Argentina 1-0 in New Jersey on 19 July.

Africa Cup of Nations Record and the AFCON 2025 Dispute

Morocco’s only Africa Cup of Nations title won on the pitch came in 1976, in Ethiopia. Morocco hosted the 2025 edition, which ended in January 2026.

The final, on Sunday, 18 January 2026 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, ended 1-0 to Senegal after extra time. Pape Gueye scored, and Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy saved a late Díaz penalty.

Morocco protested over Senegal players leaving the pitch during the match without the referee’s permission. On Tuesday, 17 March 2026, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final.

It cited Articles 82 and 84 of the tournament rules.

The board recorded a 3-0 win for Morocco, which made it the AFCON 2025 champion on paper. Senegal’s federation appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the sports tribunal in Lausanne, Switzerland.

CAS heard the case behind closed doors on Thursday, 8 October 2026. It said it would deliver a reasoned decision after deliberations; no verdict had been published as of 12 October 2026.

FIFA Ranking and Form Since the World Cup

In FIFA’s release of 7 October 2026, Morocco sat 7th, down one place. Portugal moved up to 5th, overtaking Brazil, now 6th, and Morocco.

Spain, Argentina and France held the top three spots.

The climb has been steep. In January 2026, after the AFCON final, FIFA ranked Morocco 8th.

It was the team’s first top-10 place since April 1998 and its best ever at the time.

Form since the World Cup has been solid but not spotless. Qualifying for AFCON 2027 opened with two 2-0 wins.

• Friday, 25 September 2026: Morocco 2-0 Gabon in Rabat, with goals from Mazraoui and Rahimi.
• Tuesday, 29 September 2026: Lesotho 0-2 Morocco in Bloemfontein, South Africa, with goals from Díaz and Ounahi.
• Sunday, 4 October 2026: Morocco 1-1 Mali, a friendly at the Grand Stade de Tanger. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli scored a penalty before Mali equalised.

The Mali game replaced a planned friendly against Ghana that was cancelled in late September. Ouahbi has repeatedly called the AFCON his main objective, as quoted by Morocco World News.

Morocco and the 2030 World Cup

On Wednesday, 11 December 2024, an extraordinary FIFA congress approved the 2030 World Cup bid. Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

The tournament will be split across Africa and Europe.

Morocco’s share covers six stadiums in six cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, Fes and Marrakech. Rabat and Tangier hosted the national team’s home games in autumn 2026.

For the team, 2030 means a home World Cup with the current youth players at their peak. Many of the Under-20 world champions of 2025 will be in their mid-twenties by then.

Next Fixtures and How to Watch in the US

Morocco is in AFCON 2027 qualifying Group A with Niger, Gabon and Lesotho. The top two in each of the 12 groups qualify.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda host the finals from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

Morocco has beaten Gabon at home and Lesotho away. Niger is the one group rival it has not yet faced.

The next qualifiers are expected in the November 2026 international window.

For US viewers, timing matters more than the channel. Morocco runs on GMT+1, so a 7 p.m. kick-off in Rabat is 2 p.m. Eastern while US daylight saving lasts, and 1 p.m. after clocks change on Sunday, 1 November 2026.

For recent qualifiers, Moroccan outlets listed Arryadia on Moroccan state television and beIN SPORTS for the Middle East and North Africa. They did not name a US broadcaster, so check US sports listings and the beIN SPORTS US schedule before each match.

What It Means for US Readers

For fans, Morocco is one of the most watchable teams outside Europe and South America. Its 2026 group games drew 80,663 fans in New Jersey, 64,146 in Boston and 68,239 in Atlanta, according to FIFA match data.

For travellers, the 2030 World Cup puts Morocco on the planning list early. Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakech will host matches, and Tangier sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, facing Spain.

For investors and sponsors, the national team is the public face of Morocco’s sports investment, from new stadiums to youth academies. That makes results, the CAS ruling and the 2030 build-out worth tracking as one story.

What Is Not Known

• When CAS will publish its ruling on the AFCON 2025 final, and whether it upholds Morocco’s forfeit win or restores Senegal’s title.
• The exact dates and venues of Morocco’s November 2026 qualifiers against Niger, Gabon and Lesotho.
• Which US broadcaster, if any, will carry Morocco’s remaining qualifiers and friendlies live.
• Whether Morocco will regain a top-six place in FIFA’s next ranking on 18 November 2026.
• Which stadium will host the 2030 World Cup final, and Morocco’s exact match schedule as a co-host.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the coach of the Morocco national football team?

Mohamed Ouahbi has coached Morocco since March 2026, when he replaced Walid Regragui. He previously led Morocco to the 2025 Under-20 World Cup title in Chile.

How did Morocco do at the 2026 World Cup?

Morocco reached the quarter-finals. It drew with Brazil, beat Scotland and Haiti, knocked out the Netherlands on penalties and Canada 3-0, then lost 2-0 to France in Boston on 9 July 2026.

What is Morocco’s FIFA ranking?

Morocco was 7th in the FIFA men’s world ranking released on 7 October 2026. The next ranking is due on 18 November 2026.

Did Morocco win AFCON 2025?

Senegal won the final 1-0 after extra time on 18 January 2026. On 17 March 2026 the CAF Appeal Board awarded Morocco a 3-0 forfeit win. Senegal appealed to CAS, which heard the case on 8 October 2026; no verdict had been published as of 12 October 2026.

Is Morocco hosting the 2030 World Cup?

Yes. FIFA approved the joint bid of Morocco, Spain and Portugal on 11 December 2024. Morocco named six host cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, Fes and Marrakech.

What time do Morocco matches start in the US?

Morocco runs on GMT+1. A 7 p.m. kick-off in Rabat is 2 p.m. Eastern Time while US daylight saving lasts, and 1 p.m. Eastern after 1 November 2026.

Sources: FIFA, World Cup 2026 match data; FIFA, October 2026 men’s world ranking; FIFA, January 2026 ranking; FIFA, U-20 World Cup 2025 match data; CAF, Ouahbi appointment; CAF, September 2026 squad; CAF, AFCON 2025 final report; CAF Appeal Board statement; Hespress, CAS hearing; Africanews, CAS hearing date; Hespress, AFCON 2027 draw; Hespress, Morocco 2-0 Gabon; Hespress, Lesotho 0-2 Morocco; Hespress, Morocco 1-1 Mali; Hespress, broadcast and kick-off times; Morocco World News, Mali friendly broadcast; Hespress, 2030 World Cup award; Hespress, 1976 AFCON title. All accessed 12 October 2026.