Ahead of Morocco vs Canada at the World Cup, comparisons arise with the 2022 team
Summary
Morocco’s soccer team, which made history by reaching the 2022 World Cup semifinals, has changed a lot for the 2026 World Cup. Only a few players from the 2022 team are still playing, and the old coach is no longer in charge. Despite these changes, Morocco has not lost a match in 2026 and reached the Round of 16.Key Facts
- Morocco reached the 2022 World Cup semifinals with a mainly defensive strategy and experienced players.
- The 2022 coach, Walid Regragui, took over just before the tournament and focused on defense and quick counter-attacks.
- Key 2022 players like Youssef En-Nesyri, Hakim Ziyech, and Soufiane Boufal are not on the 2026 World Cup team.
- Only Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El-Khanouss, and goalkeepers remain from the 2022 squad.
- The 2026 Morocco team did not win their group but advanced to the Round of 16 by beating the Netherlands on penalties.
- Morocco's recent Africa Cup of Nations results have been mixed, including a controversial 2025 final against Senegal.
- There have been accusations that referees favored Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
- Comparisons between the 2022 and 2026 Morocco teams focus on youth and style differences, with the newer team needing to match past success.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
