Morocco promotes Mohamed Ouahbi to coach 100 days before the 2026 World Cup By Luís Henrique Costa
3 min read
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Marrocos announced Mohamed Ouahbi as the new head coach of the main team. The 49-year-old coach replaces Walid Regragui less than 100 days before the start of Copa from Mundo in 2026. The change was confirmed by Federação Real Marroquina from Futebol in a press conference with president Fouzi Lekjaa.
Ouahbi arrives at the position with a recent record of success in the youth categories. Ele won the title from Mundial Sub-20 in 2025, defeating Argentina in the final. Agora takes over a squad that is experiencing the best moment in the history of Moroccan football, after fourth place in the 2022 Copa.
Trajetória of the new technical commander
Mohamed Ouahbi begins his first experience as a senior national team coach. Antes, worked exclusively in the lower Moroccan categories and had experience at the base of Anderlecht, Bélgica. Sua internal promotion represents the federation’s commitment to maintaining the continuity of the project with a professional who knows the country’s training structure.
Walid Regragui, his predecessor, remained in office after Catar’s historic campaign. Regragui guided Marrocos to the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament, taking fourth place overall. Sua’s departure marks a strategic shift just months away from the upcoming Mundial.
- Mohamed Ouahbi is 49 years old and has been a coach for the Moroccan Sub-20 since 2025.
- Conquistou the world title of the category in 2025 against Argentina.
- Substitui Walid Regragui, responsible for fourth place in 2022.
- Primeira experience as a career main selection coach.
Elenco merges veteran experience with emerging generation
Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech lead the group of players with the most experience in Copas. Ambos have accumulated ten games in the tournament. Ziyech boasts the fastest goal in Copas’s history from Mundo, scored in 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
Youssef En-Nesyri appears as the main offensive reference, scoring three goals in Mundiais. The team maintains the defensive solidity that marked the 2022 campaign. Ouahbi must preserve this collective standard while injecting the pace and youth of the base that it knows well.
Desafios immediate on Grupo C
Marrocos integrates Grupo C alongside Brasil, Escócia and Haiti. The debut takes place against the Brazilian team on June 13, at 7pm (Brasília time), at MetLife Stadium, on Nova York. The reunion takes on extra weight: Marrocos beat Brasil 2-1 in a 2023 friendly.
The team will next face Escócia on June 19th at 7pm on Gillette Stadium on Boston. The last commitment of the first phase takes place on June 24, at 7 pm, against Haiti in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta. The first two placed advance directly to the next phase.
Perspectivas history and goals for 2026
Marrocos reaches his seventh participation in Copas of Mundo. Pela for the first time, the country competes in three consecutive editions. The federation sees 2026 as a bridge to the 2030 Mundial, when Marrocos will be one of the tournament’s venues.
The country accumulates historic marks in world football. Foi the first African to lead a group and reach the semi-finals of an Copa. Após the runner-up in Copa Africana of Nações of 2025, the pressure to advance in the knockout stage grew. Ouahbi takes on the mission of maintaining a solid defense and improving offensive performance. Preparation includes a strategic mix of youth and experience, with the coach already knowing several athletes from the Moroccan youth teams.
