World Cup 2026: Can Morocco be a football powerhouse?

The next step for Morocco is to bring in more senior internationals through the domestic production line.

The federation needs to strengthen the infrastructure of clubs and academies.

Between 2022 and 2025, the RMFF’s technical director Chris van Puivelde said the next World Cup aimed to have an even split between players born in Morocco and those raised elsewhere.

But he warned “the total organization within the country needs to be better”.

There is a delicate balance to strike, given the growing demand for results, which in the long run brings the danger of focusing too much on early developers rather than technical talent.

Morocco manager Mohamed Ohbi previously felt the need for success when his Under-20 side failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup in 2023.

“We had a meeting with the president,” said Van Puevelde.

“He asked, ‘What can we do about these coaches? We lost against Libya. It’s not normal. We have to do something. Maybe fire them?’

“I said, ‘President, these are very good coaches, we will support them more, we will create a structure’.”

With renewed support, and a bit of patience, the Belgian-born Ohbi and his staff are on course to win the Under-20 World Cup in 2025.

He was promoted to the role of senior team manager just months after Regargui resigned following the senior African Nations Cup debacle.

After several Senegalese players walked off the field in protest when the North Africans were awarded a controversial penalty in second-half stoppage time, the trophy was later awarded to Morocco, who lost 1–0 in the final, which was later missed by Brahim Diaz.

Ohby quickly had to turn the page before the World Cup, but the RMFF also looked to the future after being handed a contract until the 2030 edition.

Morocco have the third-youngest team at the tournament – their average starting age is 26 years and 126 days – and the success of the under-20s is an indication of the new crop of talent Ohbi could bring in in the coming years.

It looks like Morocco is literally building to something as the country prepares to co-host the next World Cup with Portugal and Spain.

“They’re building the stadium, but they’re also building the structure from below,” added Van Puevelde.

“Once you get some oxygen, as Morocco did in Qatar (in 2022), you see this oxygen spread very quickly.

“All over the country.”