Walid Regragui departs and Mohamed Wahbi is appointed as Morocco's coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup
The Moroccan Football Federation caused a sporting earthquake by officially announcing the departure of national coach Walid Regragui from his position at the helm of the first team, at a highly sensitive time just three months before the start of the 2026 World Cup finals. This decision brings to a close one of the most prominent periods in the history of Moroccan and Arab football.
The end of the Fourth World era
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation confirmed on its official platforms Thursday evening the formal termination of its contract with coach Youcef Regragui, indicating that a farewell ceremony befitting his unprecedented achievements will be organized. This decision comes after a remarkable career, during which Regragui led the Atlas Lions to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, an achievement that placed African and Arab football in the global semi-finals for the first time, raising public expectations to unprecedented levels.
Despite the outstanding World Cup success, the loss in the African Cup of Nations final earlier this year to Senegal by a single goal cast a shadow over the scene, prompting the federation to decide to inject new blood into the technical artery of the national team before the upcoming global event.
Mohamed Wahbi: A bet on continuity and youth
In a move reflecting a focus on investing in grassroots successes, the Moroccan Football Federation announced the appointment of Mohamed Wahbi as the new head coach of the national team. Wahbi is no stranger to national team affairs, boasting an impressive track record with youth teams, culminating in leading Morocco's under-20 team to victory in the FIFA U-20 World Cup last year, following a historic 2-0 win over Argentina in the final. This appointment reflects a strategy of relying on coaches who understand the mindset of emerging young players and can integrate them with the senior squad.
European expertise supports the technical staff
To boost their chances at the 2026 World Cup, the federation didn't just appoint Wahbi; they also bolstered the coaching staff with a prominent figure in European football, the Portuguese João Sacramento . Sacramento boasts an impressive resume and high-level tactical experience, having previously served as an assistant coach at top clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, and Tottenham Hotspur, working alongside renowned managers like José Mourinho and Christophe Galtier.
The Moroccan and international sports community is waiting to see how the new team will be able to maintain the gains of Moroccan football and overcome the pressure of the tight time frame before the start of the 2026 World Cup, in a mission that requires maintaining the status of the "Lions" as a global football force to be reckoned with.
