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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is exactly a week away, and Africa's reigning champion will be making its way to Boston this summer.
The Morocco Men's National Team is set play at least one match at Gillette Stadium (which will be referred to as “Boston Stadium” for sponsorship reasons for the duration of the World Cup).
This World Cup marks the Atlas Lions' seventh appearance on soccer's biggest stage, with the nation having made it further than any other African side at the tournament during its last edition in Qatar in 2022.
With Morocco releasing its 26-man squad list for the World Cup on Tuesday, May 26, here’s what to know about the Atlas Lions ahead of kickoff.
The Atlas Lions will once again be led by their captain and defender Achraf Hakimi, a back-to-back Champions League winner with PSG who will hope to build on the squad's success at the last World Cup and African Cup of Nations.
Up front, the Atlas Lions can rely on goals from winger Brahim Diaz, along with veteran Ayoub El Kaabi, while Chemsdine Talbi will look to make a name for himself after playing a key role in Sunderland's surprisingly successful seventh place Premier League finish after being promoted from the Championship.
In midfield, Sofyan Amrabat leads a strong contingent that also includes Neil El Ayanoudi, Azzedine Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss. On defense, Morocco will look for leadership alongside Hakimi in Redouane Halhal and Issa Diop, while veteran goalkeeper Yassine Bounou will on once again be the main man between the sticks for the Atlas Lions.
Morocco is set to play at least one match in Foxboro, taking on Scotland in its second match of the group stage. If the Atlas Lions finish third in Group C but still advance to the knockout stage, they could return to Boston for the Round of 32 (June 29, 4:30 p.m.) against the winner of Group E and possibly have a fourth match in Foxboro if they were to reach the quarterfinals (July 9, 4 p.m.) in that scenario.
Here is Morocco's entire Group C schedule:
The Atlas Lions will be based out of New Jersey for the duration of the World Cup, training at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, NJ while staying at the Somerset Hills Hotel in Warren, NJ.
Yes, and no. The Atlas Lions, who hosted the 2025 AFCON, initially fell 1-0 to Senegal in extra time in a controversy-filled final on Jan. 18, 2026. After going 0-0 through the first 90 minutes, Les Lions de la Teranga thought they had the winner in the third minute of added time as a header on a corner by Abdoulaye Seck was deflected then sent into the back of the net by Ismaeil Sarr. Instead, the goal was disallowed by referee Jean Jacques Ndala, who said Seck pushed off Hakimi in the build up, which Senegal believed had been a deliberate dive by the Moroccan captain to draw a foul.
In the eighth minute of added time, the Atlas Lions were awarded a penalty kick for a foul in the box by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Diaz via VAR, infuriating the Senegalese players and manager Pape Thiaw, who ordered his team to leave the pitch in protest. At the urging of captain Sadio Mané, Les Lions de la Teranga returned to the pitch 14 minutes later to resume the match, only for Diaz to miss hit his penalty chance for Morocco. Senegal scored in the 94th minute of extra time via midfielder Papa Gueye, and would hold that lead to go on and lift the trophy in Rabat.
However, Morocco filed a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and on March 17, the CAF ruled in favor of the Atlas Lions, saying that Senegal had effectively forfeited the match by leaving the pitch in violation of CAF rules. By that ruling, the match was declared a forfeit and given as a 3-0 win to Morocco, who were retroactively awarded the AFCON trophy.
Regardless, expect both squads to be their continent's two strongest sides in North America this summer.
This is the seventh overall appearance for the Atlas Lions at a World Cup, and its third in a row. Morocco is coming off its best-ever finish in Qatar in 2022, where the Atlas Lions became both the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-finals. Morocco fell 2-0 to then-defending champions France and then fell 2-1 to Croatia in the third place match to finish fourth.
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hillal), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Reda Tagnaouti (AS FAR)
Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al-Alhy), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (KRC Genk), Nayef Aguerd (Olympique de Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Issa Diop (Fulham FC)
Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet (RC Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (LOSC Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona FC), Bilal El Khannouss (VfB Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland AFC), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Gessime Yassine (RC Strasbourg), Ayoube Amaimouni (Eintracht Frankfurt)
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: What you should know about the Morocco Men's National Soccer Team
Continue reading...
The Morocco Men's National Team is set play at least one match at Gillette Stadium (which will be referred to as “Boston Stadium” for sponsorship reasons for the duration of the World Cup).
This World Cup marks the Atlas Lions' seventh appearance on soccer's biggest stage, with the nation having made it further than any other African side at the tournament during its last edition in Qatar in 2022.
With Morocco releasing its 26-man squad list for the World Cup on Tuesday, May 26, here’s what to know about the Atlas Lions ahead of kickoff.
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Who are the Morocco's key players?
The Atlas Lions will once again be led by their captain and defender Achraf Hakimi, a back-to-back Champions League winner with PSG who will hope to build on the squad's success at the last World Cup and African Cup of Nations.
Up front, the Atlas Lions can rely on goals from winger Brahim Diaz, along with veteran Ayoub El Kaabi, while Chemsdine Talbi will look to make a name for himself after playing a key role in Sunderland's surprisingly successful seventh place Premier League finish after being promoted from the Championship.
In midfield, Sofyan Amrabat leads a strong contingent that also includes Neil El Ayanoudi, Azzedine Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss. On defense, Morocco will look for leadership alongside Hakimi in Redouane Halhal and Issa Diop, while veteran goalkeeper Yassine Bounou will on once again be the main man between the sticks for the Atlas Lions.
When is Morocco playing at Boston Stadium?
Morocco is set to play at least one match in Foxboro, taking on Scotland in its second match of the group stage. If the Atlas Lions finish third in Group C but still advance to the knockout stage, they could return to Boston for the Round of 32 (June 29, 4:30 p.m.) against the winner of Group E and possibly have a fourth match in Foxboro if they were to reach the quarterfinals (July 9, 4 p.m.) in that scenario.
Here is Morocco's entire Group C schedule:
- June 13- Morocco vs. Brazil, 6 p.m. at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)
- June 19- Morocco vs. Scotland,6 p.m. at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium)
- June 24- Morocco vs. Haiti, 6 p.m. at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Where is Morocco training during the World Cup?
The Atlas Lions will be based out of New Jersey for the duration of the World Cup, training at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, NJ while staying at the Somerset Hills Hotel in Warren, NJ.
Did Morocco win the African Cup of Nations?
Yes, and no. The Atlas Lions, who hosted the 2025 AFCON, initially fell 1-0 to Senegal in extra time in a controversy-filled final on Jan. 18, 2026. After going 0-0 through the first 90 minutes, Les Lions de la Teranga thought they had the winner in the third minute of added time as a header on a corner by Abdoulaye Seck was deflected then sent into the back of the net by Ismaeil Sarr. Instead, the goal was disallowed by referee Jean Jacques Ndala, who said Seck pushed off Hakimi in the build up, which Senegal believed had been a deliberate dive by the Moroccan captain to draw a foul.
In the eighth minute of added time, the Atlas Lions were awarded a penalty kick for a foul in the box by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Diaz via VAR, infuriating the Senegalese players and manager Pape Thiaw, who ordered his team to leave the pitch in protest. At the urging of captain Sadio Mané, Les Lions de la Teranga returned to the pitch 14 minutes later to resume the match, only for Diaz to miss hit his penalty chance for Morocco. Senegal scored in the 94th minute of extra time via midfielder Papa Gueye, and would hold that lead to go on and lift the trophy in Rabat.
However, Morocco filed a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and on March 17, the CAF ruled in favor of the Atlas Lions, saying that Senegal had effectively forfeited the match by leaving the pitch in violation of CAF rules. By that ruling, the match was declared a forfeit and given as a 3-0 win to Morocco, who were retroactively awarded the AFCON trophy.
Regardless, expect both squads to be their continent's two strongest sides in North America this summer.
How many times has Morocco been to the World Cup?
This is the seventh overall appearance for the Atlas Lions at a World Cup, and its third in a row. Morocco is coming off its best-ever finish in Qatar in 2022, where the Atlas Lions became both the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-finals. Morocco fell 2-0 to then-defending champions France and then fell 2-1 to Croatia in the third place match to finish fourth.
Morocco Men’s National Team 2026 FIFA World Cup 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hillal), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Reda Tagnaouti (AS FAR)
Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al-Alhy), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (KRC Genk), Nayef Aguerd (Olympique de Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Issa Diop (Fulham FC)
Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet (RC Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (LOSC Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona FC), Bilal El Khannouss (VfB Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland AFC), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Gessime Yassine (RC Strasbourg), Ayoube Amaimouni (Eintracht Frankfurt)
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: What you should know about the Morocco Men's National Soccer Team
Continue reading...
