Morocco’s official statement on Ayoub Bouadi

18-year-old midfielder Ayoub Bouadi made his international choice in the Moroccan team instead of France.

Bouadi, a star of French club Lille, is regarded as one of European football’s most promising emerging talents, and he bounced between two national teams before being convinced by the Atlas Lions sporting project and his family connections.

The Moroccan federation officially announced the player’s joining via their social media pages, saying: “Let me welcome Ayoub Bouaddi to the Atlas Lions family. Welcome to your homeland.”

This inclusion comes 26 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, a major achievement for the Moroccan university, which continues its successful strategy of attracting players of two nationalities.