Official: Morocco's World Cup 2026 Squad is Here

Safaa Kasraoui19:42 30.05.2026

Rabat – Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has officially unveiled the final squad list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirming a balanced group that blends experience, young talent, and tactical versatility. The announcement ends weeks of anticipation, as fans waited to see which players would be making the prestigious trip to football’s biggest stage. The final selection features traditional pillars of the national team, including star goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, as well as fellow goalkeepers Munir El Kajoui and Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti. The full list of the players is as follows: Goalkeepers YASSINE BOUNOU MUNIR EL KAJOUI AHMED REDA TAGNAOUTI Defenders NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI ANASS SALAH-EDDINE YOUSSEF BELAMMARI NAYEF AGUERD CHADI RIAD ISSA DIOP REDOUANE HALHAL ACHRAF HAKIMI ZAKARIA EL OUAHDI Midfielders SAMIR EL MOURABET AYYOUB BOUADDI NEIL EL AYNAOUI SOFYAN AMRABAT AZZEDINE OUNAHI BILAL EL KHANNOUSS ISMAEL SAIBARI Forwards ABDESSAMAD EZZALZOULI CHEMSDINE TALBI SOUFIANE RAHIMI AYOUB EL KAABI BRAHIM DIAZ YASSINE GESSIME AYOUBE AMAIMOUNI As part of its preparatory campaign ahead of the World Cup, Morocco is scheduled to play two friendly matches against Madagascar on June 2 and Norway on June 7. Morocco already played its first friendly today, dominating the match 5-0. The Atlas Lions are currently ranked 8th in the FIFA rankings, making them the highest-ranked African national team. All eyes are now on the national team, with fans eager to see them roar again and replicate the historic 2022 World Cup run, where Morocco became the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals. Morocco is in Group C, alongside Brazil, with the match scheduled for June 13. June 19 will feature Morocco vs Scotland, followed by Morocco vs Haiti on June 24. Many see the group as manageable, but observers emphasize that no match is easy at the World Cup, where all underdog teams will be striving to become the new Morocco by replicating the Atlas Lions’ historic run in 2022.

Economy

Morocco's Ceramic Industry Signs Strategic 2026–2030

Morocco's Professional Association of Ceramic Industries (APIC) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade signed a landmark strategic framework agreement at the inaugural National Ceramics Day in Casablanca, formalizing a comprehensive 2026–2030 Ceramic Accord designed to transform one of the country's most historically embedded industrial sectors. Industry and Commerce Minister Ryad Mezzour presided over the signing ceremony alongside leading figures from the ceramics industry, architecture, design, and academia. In a symbolic gesture that drew applause from attendees, the protocol was signed directly on a ceramic tile — a nod, according to organizers, to "an industry deeply rooted in Moroccan know-how and resolutely oriented toward the future." The Accord is structured around five strategic axes: industrial competitiveness, energy efficiency, market structuring, quality upgrading, and innovation. Omar Chaabi, President of APIC, argued that Morocco's ceramic sector now possesses the industrial foundations needed to make a decisive leap forward, and that the key challenge is building a coherent joint public-private trajectory to get there. Minister Mezzour acknowledged the sector's progress, praising operators for their creativity and upgrading efforts, as well as their role in structuring the downstream ecosystem of installers and distributors. He described ceramics as "an integral part of the kingdom's civilizational heritage" that Morocco has successfully integrated into a modern industrial system. The National Ceramics Day itself brought together industrialists, architects, designers, academics, and public officials around themes including the revaluation of Moroccan ceramics, quality standards, energy efficiency, import competition, and export prospects. Moroccan ceramic exports have been growing steadily, and the new Accord is expected to accelerate the sector's international positioning significantly by 2030.

North Africa Post·20:24 30.05.2026

Sports

Sports Journalists' Golf Cup Concludes in Agadir

Agadir hosted the closing ceremony of the ninth edition of the Golf Cup for Sports Journalists on Saturday, bringing together media professionals, athletes, and public figures from Morocco and beyond in a celebration of sport and camaraderie. The three-day tournament took place at one of the city's premier golf courses and drew participants from across Morocco as well as international guests representing media organizations from Europe and Africa. The event, organized under the aegis of the Moroccan Sports Press Association, has grown significantly since its inaugural edition, establishing itself as a landmark in Morocco's sports media calendar. This year's edition was particularly notable for its international dimension, with journalists from Spain, France, and several sub-Saharan African countries joining their Moroccan counterparts on the greens. Beyond the competitive rounds, the Golf Cup served as a platform for dialogue between sports media professionals, fostering networks and discussing the evolving landscape of sports journalism in an era of digital transformation. A dedicated awards ceremony honored journalists and civil society figures who have made outstanding contributions to Moroccan sport over the past year. Organizers emphasized Agadir's growing reputation as a sports and tourism destination, with the city's coastline, climate, and world-class golf infrastructure making it an ideal host for international events. "Agadir is proving itself as a city capable of hosting events of the highest level," said the association's president in closing remarks. The success of this edition has strengthened the case for Morocco's broader ambitions in sports tourism, a sector expected to receive significant investment as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

Jalal Bounouar·19:59 30.05.2026