Football: Xavi, Pioli... does Morocco really want to turn the Regragui page?

Uncertainty persists around the Moroccan bench. Officially, nothing has changed. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) categorically denied any resignation of Walid Regragui.

In a press release published on 6 February, the body stated that the coach "is continuing with his mission normally" and remained committed to preparing for upcoming events, notably the 2026 World Cup.

But in high-level football, institutional denial is not always enough to extinguish questions. Because if the rupture is not agreed, stability does not seem fully assumed.

A gray spot four months from the World Cup
Morocco will approach the 2026 World Cup in group C, along with Brazil, Scotland and Haiti. A demanding print that imposes clarity and continuity. Now, since the continental final lost to Senegal, the atmosphere around the selection has changed. Without an open crisis, a form of wear seems perceptible. Regragui is no longer just the strategist for Doha 2022. And that may be where the real crux of the problem lies.

Since the 2022 World Cup, every tactical choice is compared to the Qatari epic. Each composition recalls the memory of an unprecedented semi-final for an African nation. An exceptional success can become, for the one who orchestrated it, a permanent pressure.

The question is therefore not only: does the Federation want to continue with him? The question may be: does he still want to carry this weight?

Xavi, the prestige option
Among the names mentioned is that of Xavi. The former maestro of FC Barcelona has reportedly been the subject of initial exchanges according to several specialized sources. His profile is appealing. Assertive game philosophy, successful experience at Al Sadd SC, contrasting but formative passage on the Blaugrana bench (2021-2024).

Xavi had also publicly praised the potential of the Atlas Lions last autumn. Free since his departure from Barça, he represents an attractive option on a symbolic level. Remains the feasibility with important financial stakes, the adaptation to the context of a selection and the management of a group in a short time.

Leading a national team is not coaching a club on a daily basis. The risk would be to confuse media aura and strategic adequacy.

Stefano Pioli, the Italian experience
2022 Italian Champion with AC Milan, spent by Inter and several Serie A clubs, the Italian has been free since his departure from Fiorentina last November.

His profile differs from that of Xavi:

Experienced manager
Accustomed to pressure environments
Rigorous tactical culture
But again, the calendar is a formidable opponent. With four months to go before the World Cup, launching a new cycle is a structural gamble.

And the local track?
Internal solutions like Tarik Sektioui remain feasible. This option would present a major advantage. Preserve the methodological and cultural continuity, avoid a sudden break and maintain the cohesion of a locker room which, according to several signals, remains attached to its selector. A selection is never rebuilt against its group.

The Regragui paradox
Regragui’s most credible replacement could be... Regragui himself. But on the condition of evolving by refreshing one’s group and certain executives. Prioritize the state of form over status. Gradually integrate the new generation. Adjust communication. Turn the page on Qatar permanently

Morocco is no longer a romantic outsider. They are now a major player in the competition and in this new status, stability can become a lever... or an inertia.

Continuity or break?
Neither open crisis nor total serenity: the Moroccan selection is advancing in a strategic gap. The FRMF has officially closed the door to a resignation. But the decision ahead goes beyond the mere contractual issue. It touches on the psychology of a coach and the maturity of a project. With four months to go before the World Cup, Morocco may not need a new name.


And sometimes, in very high-level football, the most demanding event is not to replace a man... but to know if he can still reinvent himself.