Morocco Enhances Team With New Dual-Nationality Players Ahead Of 2026 World Cup
Morocco has received FIFA approval for new dual-national players, enhancing squad depth in preparation for the World Cup and upcoming friendlies.
Morocco has received FIFA approval to include seven dual-nationality players in their squad, maintaining a vigorous recruitment effort in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Recent inclusions feature Fulham defender Issa Diop and Ajax midfielder Rayane Bounida, both selected by new coach Mohamed Ouahbi for upcoming friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay.
Diop, aged 29, has previously played for France at the youth level, whereas Bounida is one of six players aged 20 or younger who have changed their allegiance this month from Belgium or the Netherlands. FIFA regulations allow for these modifications when players have not participated in senior competitive matches for a different nation and have family connections.
Morocco, having made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as Africa’s first semifinalists, is set to face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in the 2026 tournament, with matches scheduled across the United States.
The Moroccan federation, under the leadership of Fouzi Lekjaa, has placed a growing emphasis on engaging its European diaspora, a tactic that has successfully attracted notable players such as Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat in the past.
Since March of last year, FIFA has sanctioned 16 eligibility switches to Morocco, incorporating players from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway. This move strengthens the squad in preparation for both the 2026 World Cup and the 2030 tournament, which Morocco will co-host.
