Morocco Awaits Regragui’s Squad List for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Moroccan football fans are eagerly anticipating the squad announcement by head coach Walid Regragui in the first week of March. The team is preparing for crucial matches against Niger and Tanzania in the fifth and sixth rounds of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Moroccan squad is currently dealing with a wave of injuries. The most notable is Nayef Aguerd, who was forced to leave Real Sociedad’s match against Leganés in the 32nd minute due to pain in his right quadriceps. His coach, Imanol Alguacil, commented: « We have to wait for the medical tests, but he is experiencing muscle discomfort, and it could be a minor muscle tear. He needs to rest. »

Additionally, Noussair Mazraoui suffered a knee injury while playing for Manchester United against Everton, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming national team fixtures.

Beyond injuries, some key players are struggling with match fitness. Hakim Ziyech, for example, has not secured a regular starting spot with Qatari club Al-Duhail. The drop in form of some core players may force Regragui to reconsider his selections.

Due to injuries and lack of fitness, Regragui might turn to fresh talents to strengthen the Atlas Lions’ squad. Among the potential call-ups are Hamza Igamane (Glasgow Rangers), Oussama Idrissi (Pachuca, Mexico), and Ayoub Bouaddi (Lille), who recently chose to represent Morocco over France. Additionally, Chamseddine Talbi, a former Belgium youth international, is expected to join the Moroccan squad after committing to the national team.

Morocco currently tops Group E with nine points and will face Niger and Tanzania on March 17 and 24. However, with Eritrea withdrawing from the qualifiers and the Democratic Republic of the Congo being disqualified by FIFA, the group is now down to four teams. This may affect the points tally, and the Moroccan Federation awaits an official decision from FIFA regarding the standings.