Mohamed Ouahbi has admitted that selecting Morocco’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was one of the most difficult challenges of his tenure, as the Atlas Lions prepare for the tournament in North America.
The Morocco head coach acknowledged that several players were left disappointed after missing out on the final 26-man squad, but stressed that many of them still remain firmly in his long-term plans for the national team.
Ouahbi made the remarks during the press conference in which he officially unveiled Morocco’s squad for the World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“Of course, some players will be called up and others will not. But what I take away from this camp is that I saw ready players, God willing, to represent Morocco in the near future,” Ouahbi said.
The coach explained that competition for places within the national team has become increasingly intense because of the growing number of talented Moroccan players competing at a high level both domestically and abroad.
While he described the depth of talent as a positive sign for Moroccan football, he also admitted it has made squad selection far more complicated for the technical staff.
Ouahbi insisted that players omitted from the World Cup squad should not consider themselves permanently excluded from the national setup, suggesting future opportunities will remain open during upcoming international windows and competitions.
“But now we’re happy. We have our 26, and we’re heading to the World Cup with a lot of ambition,” he added.
Morocco enter the tournament carrying major expectations following the country’s impressive rise on the international stage in recent years. The Atlas Lions are widely viewed as one of Africa’s strongest sides heading into the competition.
Ouahbi also praised the professionalism and commitment shown by his players throughout the preparatory training camp.
According to the coach, the atmosphere within the squad has been highly positive, with players showing strong discipline and intensity during sessions.
“We were very satisfied. I want to thank and congratulate the players for this camp. We had a really, really good camp,” he said.
