NAS's Corner: Morocco in 2026…

Morocco have moved into another dimension. I realised it myself during the tournament, when I was in Doha. I attended 27 matches in the stadium, and the simple Morocco shirt, bought a few weeks earlier, had become iconic and, as they said in Doha, "Sold Out".

As an anecdote, I went to an Argentina-Netherlands game, if memory serves, and a Kuwaiti supporter wanted to buy my shirt for 500 dollars, it was that scarce. All this is to explain the impact that Walid Regragui and his men had on the World Cup.

When I came back to Morocco, I really noticed that it had gone beyond football. Everyone talked about nothing else. In the gloom of global inflation, Moroccans had a glimmer of hope, and that glimmer of hope had a name: Walid Regragui, who has completely changed the mindset of Moroccans. His press conferences have become "collector's items" for those who perhaps don't know him, but not for me, having followed him closely during that CAF Champions League campaign with Wydad Casablanca. He delivered motivational messages that won over the Moroccan people.

The Mohammed VI Academy, a breeding ground for excellence

Today, a number of schools and companies are holding talks on the feat of the Atlas Lions, and I am frequently invited to them myself. It has become an example of success for all Moroccans, and it is with that strength that Morocco began this year, 2023, especially in football.

How has Morocco capitalised at home? First of all by hosting the Club World Cup, which was a great success, but above all by investing in youth development.

Morocco have been very smart in developing the Mohammed VI Academy, and have staged a prestigious tournament for under-19 players, with big European clubs taking part, such as Real Madrid, Glasgow Rangers, OM and Lyon…

The tournament presents itself as one of the biggest youth tournaments in the world and, as I speak, has seen excellent showings from African clubs.

In the final, Génération Foot take on FUS Rabat. The Mohammed VI Academy will play Strasbourg in the third-place match.

And in this academy, several incredible gems stand out and have personally impressed me. If an Ounahi or an Aguerd comes out of this training centre every season, Walid Regragui will build a big team for 2026, especially if Moroccan clubs keep up the momentum of 2022 on the continent..

Morocco, a major force in world football…

Walid Regragui, who spends his time on tours of Europe, will capitalise on the 2022 World Cup to attract dual nationals. Things have clearly changed now; Morocco have become "sexy".

If you add up the groundwork of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Morocco's run at the World Cup and a Walid Regragui at the helm, you will see new faces next March when Morocco get together, and I am thinking in particular of Brahim Diaz of AC Milan…

And the Moroccan coach is relishing building a squad that has to go and win this 2024 AFCON, and above all repeat the feat of 2022 at the next World Cup in 2026.

In conclusion, as you will have understood, Morocco are capitalising on their resounding achievement at the 2022 World Cup. With Walid Regragui at the helm, they are establishing themselves as a major force in world football….

By Nasredine Nasri