Moroccan Football League Expansion to 20 Teams Awaits Crucial Club Decision
Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Moroccan professional football clubs will meet to discuss a proposal to increase the number of teams in the top league.
- The proposal suggests expanding the league from 16 to 20 teams.
- The decision is pending a crucial meeting where sporting, organizational, and logistical aspects will be considered.
Moroccan professional football clubs are awaiting a decisive meeting that will determine the future structure of the national league. On Monday, club officials will convene to discuss a significant proposal: expanding the Moroccan professional football league from its current 16 teams to 20.
Sources indicate that clubs received official notification for the upcoming meeting, which is expected to be a pivotal moment for this long-discussed initiative. The relevant authorities are carefully evaluating the proposal, considering its various sporting, organizational, and logistical implications before making a final decision on whether to adopt a 20-team league format. Such an expansion would necessitate considerable adjustments to scheduling, competition formats, and overall organization.
The idea of expanding the league was previously raised during a preparatory workshop for the 2026-2027 sports season at the Mohammed VI Football Complex. National league coaches from both the first and second divisions who attended the workshop expressed support for the proposal. They argued that the current 16-team format is no longer sufficient to keep pace with the evolution of Moroccan football, both in terms of competitiveness and in providing more opportunities for players and technical staff.
Proponents of the expansion believe that a 20-team league would broaden the competitive base and offer additional chances for clubs, players, and coaches to showcase their talents at the highest level. However, the implementation of this idea hinges on the outcomes of the upcoming meeting and the readiness of all stakeholders to embrace the new format. There remains a possibility that the implementation of the 20-team league could be postponed to the season after next, given the organizational considerations involved in changing the league system. Therefore, Monday's meeting is crucial for charting the course of this file, whether it leads to a final decision or further deliberation.
Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.