Eliminated Morocco turns attention to cohosting 2030 World Cup

Morocco's journey in the 2026 World Cup concluded with a 2-0 quarterfinal defeat against France, ending their hopes of replicating their historic semifinal run from the previous tournament. The loss, which occurred in Boston, saw Les Bleus once again prove to be a formidable obstacle for the Atlas Lions.

Despite the exit, Morocco's performance in the expanded 48-team tournament is being judged a success. They have become the first African nation to reach successive quarterfinals, a remarkable achievement that builds on their previous triumphs. Their campaign included notable victories over the Netherlands and a close contest against Brazil in the group stage.

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We have a young team who want to grow, who will continue to do so. We have talented players who will enable us to grow.

The team navigated a coaching change just three months prior to the finals, with Mohamed Ouahbi seamlessly transitioning to the senior coach role after leading Morocco's U-20 team to a title. Looking ahead, Morocco's focus shifts to cohosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain, a position that guarantees them a spot in the next tournament.

Coach Ouahbi expressed optimism about the young squad's potential for growth and future success. However, he also acknowledged the immediate challenges, including qualifying for and winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027 and 2028. Ouahbi emphasized the need for the team to take a step back, regroup, and build a squad capable of generating future dreams and winning titles.

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We need to first qualify for the Cup of Nations and to win it. We need to take a step back and to see to it that we have a team that can make and generate dreams in the future. And win titles to ensure we’re on the right track.