Less than a month before the Lions of the Atlas kick off their campaign in the 2026 World Cup, Mohamed Ouahbi has provided several important insights regarding the national team’s preparation. In a lengthy interview broadcast on Friday night on Arryadia, the Moroccan coach discussed the schedule for the upcoming weeks, the final list of 26 players, the status of injured players, and his playing philosophy ahead of the major global event.
The national coach first confirmed the organization of a first training camp from May 22 to 26 with the available pre-selected players. This gathering will allow the staff to assess the fitness of several players before a closed-door training match against Burundi, scheduled for May 26. The final list of 26 players is expected to be revealed that evening, although the coach reminded that the regulations allow waiting until June 1. “We will take what will help us perform well at the World Cup,” he explained, emphasizing the need to focus on the essentials despite a very tight schedule.
After a short break for Eid, the Lions of the Atlas will resume training on May 29, before facing Madagascar on June 2 in Rabat. Departure to the United States is planned for June 3, with a final test against Norway on June 7 in New Jersey. For Ouahbi, these matches should help establish automatisms, give rhythm to certain players, and refine the final choices before the start of the competition.
The coach also aimed to reassure regarding the injury situation. According to him, no injured player is currently definitively ruled out for the World Cup. Achraf Hakimi, expected for the Champions League final with PSG, still has enough time to regain his sensations. However, Ouahbi called for caution, stating that there should be no rush for his return. The case of Nayef Aguerd seems more delicate, as the defender has pushed himself hard in recent months, especially around the Africa Cup of Nations, but the staff remains confident in his professionalism and ability to return to his best level. Munir Mohamedi, on the other hand, should be available and is considered an important member of the group.
On the sporting front, Mohamed Ouahbi dismissed the idea of a fixed starting eleven. The coach wants to maintain healthy competition until the end, with a central criterion: performance. “I do not have a fixed eleven,” he confided, specifying that the most performing and best-suited players for the game plan will be selected. He also reminded that the league in which a player competes, their profile, and their ability to meet the tactical needs of the group will be taken into account in the final choices.
Regarding his playing philosophy, Ouahbi defended a flexible and evolving approach. He does not wish to confine his team to a rigid scheme but aims to build an identity capable of adapting to available profiles and different opponents. Possession has been worked on in recent friendly matches, but the coach knows that Morocco must also be able to defend deeper, manage transitions, and remain composed in difficult moments. For him, the goal is to see an organized, confident team that can avoid panic under pressure.
The integration of young players has also played an important role in his discourse. Mohamed Ouahbi praised the adaptation of elements from the U20 team and the new faces recently integrated into the group. However, he refuses to reason solely based on age or U20 World Champion status. For him, both a young player and a veteran must earn their place through their performances, fitness, and ability to fit into the collective project.
Finally, the coach discussed Morocco’s group in the World Cup, which includes Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. He acknowledged the prestige of the first match against the Seleção, while reminding that all three matches must be approached with the same seriousness, ambition, and humility. The final message is clear: Morocco aims to enter this World Cup with the goal of winning every match and making its supporters proud, without falling into excessive promises.
