Morocco appoint new head coach in U20 champion Mohamed Ouahbi just 98 days before the World Cup, prioritising tactical continuity over a high-profile Spanish reunion
The ambitious vision of a FC Barcelona-inspired “dream team” leading Morocco national team into the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been replaced by a strategy of internal promotion and youth integration.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) officially confirmed that Mohamed Ouahbi has been appointed as the new head coach of the senior national team.
The decision definitively ends speculation linking former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández to the vacancy left by Walid Regragui, who stepped down following a series of consultations after Morocco’s defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
The appointment of Ouahbi represents a “strategic shift” for the federation, which opted to leverage the success of its own development system rather than pursuing an outside marquee name.
Ouahbi, a 49-year-old Belgian-Moroccan tactician, recently achieved legendary status within the kingdom by guiding the Morocco U20 side to an unprecedented FIFA U-20 World Cup title in late 2025.
By elevating him to the senior role, FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa is betting on a coach who already maintains deep professional ties with the next generation of Moroccan stars.
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While the prospect of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta reuniting on the Moroccan bench captivated global headlines, the reality of the 2026 World Cup cycle has dictated a more fragmented approach.
Although the federation looked set to finalise an agreement for Iniesta to become the sporting director of the men’s national team, talks broke down. A statement by the federation announcing his appointment had been filtered by the Moroccan Football Federation, but the deal did not eventually come to fruition, with reports of salary disputes being a significant factor.
It is not clear if the breakdown in talks with Iniesta also had a domino effect on Xavi’s possible signature.
With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, the federation required a manager ready to implement a system immediately, a requirement Ouahbi meets due to his intimate knowledge of the current player pool and the federation’s “Morocco 2030” roadmap.
The new technical staff under Ouahbi will include veteran Portuguese coach João Sacramento and former Moroccan international Youssouf Hadji, signalling a blend of European tactical experience and local continuity. Ouahbi’s immediate challenge is a formidable one, as Morocco prepares to face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in Group C this June.
While the “Xavi-Iniesta dream” may be deferred or redirected toward the 2030 cycle, the Atlas Lions are moving forward with a proven winner who has already demonstrated he can lead Morocco to the top of a podium on the world stage.