As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation intensifies its campaign to recruit players of Moroccan descent from European countries, marking a significant effort to bolster the Atlas Lions' roster amid a resurgence in Moroccan football. In a swift move, six young talents have already committed to representing Morocco, underscoring the federation's successful strategy and the growing allure of the national team. DR ‹ › A few months ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation is stepping up efforts to attract players of Moroccan origin, particularly in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, to represent the Atlas Lions. This push comes amid the strong resurgence of Moroccan football in recent years. In just two weeks, six players have announced their decision to represent Morocco, according to FIFA's «Change of Football Association» platform. Among them is Ajax Amsterdam player Rayane Bounida, born in 2006, who chose Morocco over Belgium. Saif Eddien Lazar, a Genk player also born in 2006, made the same decision. Benjamin Khaderi of PSV Eindhoven (born in 2007), Ayoub Ouarghi of Feyenoord (2008), Oualid Agougil of Utrecht (2005), and Sami Bouhoudane of PSV Eindhoven (2008) have all opted to represent Morocco instead of the Netherlands. Among these players, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has called up Rayane Bounida for the national team's preparatory camp ahead of upcoming friendlies against Ecuador on Friday, March 27 in Madrid, and Paraguay on Tuesday, March 31 in Lens, France. Ongoing Moroccan efforts The Belgian Football Association expressed disappointment over Bounida's decision, while stating that it «respects his choice». Local media reported that several attempts were made to convince him, including discussions with the player and his entourage. Bounida had made only two brief appearances for Belgium's under-21 team during European Championship qualifiers, playing two minutes in each match against Austria and Belarus. Earlier, in December, goalkeeper Aymean el Hani chose to represent Morocco's youth teams over the Netherlands, while Mounir Chouiar, who holds Mauritanian and French nationalities, also opted for Morocco. In October, Moroccan-Dutch player Mohamed Ihattaren decided to switch his sporting nationality to represent Morocco instead of the Netherlands. The federation is now working to convince other prospects, including Real Madrid talents Thiago Pitarch and Rachad Fettal, both former Morocco U20 players who have since opted for Spain, as well as Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, to join the national team.
