Morocco's U17 Squad for the 2026 World Cup in Qatar
On November 7, 2026, Ahmed Kantari, the head coach of Morocco's U17 football team, revealed the official roster of 21 players who will represent the nation at the upcoming FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar. The coach emphasized the team's ambition to deliver a strong performance and represent Morocco in the best possible light on this global stage. The squad showcases a blend of homegrown talents from Moroccan leagues and players competing in esteemed European clubs, reflecting the diverse options available to the coaching staff. The lineup includes three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders, and six forwards.
Among the notable young talents included in the squad are Adam Mouk, a player from Paris Saint-Germain, Mohamed Habib Zainbi from Atletico Madrid, Ilian Hdidy from Feyenoord, Imran Talai from Ajax Amsterdam, Ziyad Baha from Olympique Marseille, and Ibrahim Rabah from Chelsea. Additionally, the roster features players from the Mohammed VI Football Academy, along with talents from the RS Berkane club, creating a balanced mix of locally trained players and those with professional experience in Europe.
Kantari Discusses Tough Selection Process
Kantari acknowledged the challenges he faced when finalizing the squad, given the abundance of talent within this generation born in 2009. He noted that only 21 players could be chosen, despite many others deserving a chance to participate. The Moroccan coach expressed that excluding certain players was a difficult decision but a necessary part of the technical process. He highlighted that this generation holds significant promise for the future of Moroccan football, with aspirations extending beyond the World Cup to nurturing these talents for potential future inclusion in the senior national team.
The head coach asserted that the team is entering the tournament with a competitive spirit, building on the successes achieved in recent years, particularly under the guidance of previous coach Nabil Baha. Kantari confidently stated that the current squad possesses the qualities needed to perform well and emphasized the goal of representing Morocco with pride while competing among the top teams in the tournament.
Below is the complete list of players selected for Morocco's U17 team:
- Goalkeepers: Adam Mouk (Paris Saint-Germain), Ryan El Yacoubi (KAA Gent, Belgium), Mohamed Harrouch (Mohammed VI Academy)
- Defenders: Adam Bouahdadi (Mohammed VI Academy), Ayman El Zakri (Mohammed VI Academy), Wael Jassem Joulisant (Neuchâtel Xamax, Switzerland), Mehdi Mustafa Lahmadi (FC Metz, France), Ali Saif El Din Mashfouq (Mohammed VI Academy), Adam Al-Soudi (Toulouse FC, France), Mohamed Habib Zainbi (Atletico Madrid, Spain)
- Midfielders: Bilal Afas (RS Berkane), Ilian Hdidy (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Nassim Laraj (OGC Nice, France), Mohamed Amin Oubakrime (RS Berkane), Imran Talai (Ajax Amsterdam)
- Forwards: Ziyad Baha (Olympique Marseille), Ismail Al-Aoud (Valencia, Spain), Anas El Khazri (Mohammed VI Academy), Waheb Al-Antari (Angers SCO, France), Rami Lougmani (RSC Anderlecht, Belgium), Ibrahim Rabah (Chelsea, England)
As reported by aljazeera.net.
