Strasbourg midfielder Samir El Mourabet, 19, has been named in Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, with the Atlas Lions set to open their campaign against Brazil in New Jersey on June 13.
El Mourabet is among the youngest players in a Morocco squad that includes 10 players under the age of 25, reflecting a significant generational transition as coach Mohamed Ouahbi reshapes the team ahead of the tournament.
The Strasbourg player earns his place alongside new additions such as Fulham defender Issa Diop and Lille midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi, with established names including Paris Saint-Germain captain Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz headlining the squad.
El Mourabet, a PUMA athlete, described wearing the Moroccan jersey as “a real source of pride to represent my country,” while also signalling the squad’s determination to go as far as possible in the competition.
Morocco will face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti in Group C, with further fixtures scheduled against Scotland on June 19 in Massachusetts and Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The players who remain from Morocco’s historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar include Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat, Nayef Aguerd, Azzedine Ounahi, Abde Ezzalzouli and Bilal El Khannouss, providing an experienced core around the younger inclusions.
For El Mourabet, the tournament represents only his second senior international call-up, having first broken into the squad earlier this year. The Strasbourg academy product has since made the step up to the senior team, and now stands on the cusp of one of football’s most watched stages.
Morocco arrive at the tournament with Hakimi recognised as Africa’s reigning best player, having also reached the Champions League final with PSG, giving the Atlas Lions both pedigree and momentum as they look to build on their 2022 breakthrough.
