Called up just 48 hours before Morocco's World Cup opener against Brazil, Marwane Saadane replaces the injured Nayef Aguerd after a career spanning Morocco, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The 34-year-old defender, who has earned 14 caps for the Atlas Lions, fulfills a lifelong dream by making Morocco's World Cup squad.
The 2026 World Cup is kicking off under unusual circumstances for Moroccan café owners, who are facing a tournament unlike any before it. Between late-night kick-offs and uncertainty over opening hours, many are scaling back their preparations despite the excitement surrounding the Atlas Lions.
Until 2026, the very idea of seeing Issa Diop in a Morocco shirt had been written off. Developed in France, capped at every French youth level and established in the Premier League for nearly a decade, the Fulham defender had himself said it would be «hypocritical» to represent any national team other than France. Yet at 29, it is with the Atlas Lions that he will play at the 2026 World Cup.
Soufiane Rahimi inherited his footballing dream from his father, Mohamed «Youari», whose hopes of playing for Raja’s first team were cut short by injury. From the Oasis complex to the streets of Derb Sultan, Rahimi overcame setbacks, injuries and rejection to achieve what his father could not, emerging as one of Morocco’s leading stars ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
From the carpentry workshops of Mediouna on the outskirts of Casablanca to European podiums and the spotlight of the World Cup, Ayoub El Kaabi has carved out an extraordinary path that defies every ready-made template for a star’s rise.
Before joining the Atlas Lions, Samir El Mourabet followed a path few professional players have taken. His detour through futsal proved to be the springboard for a journey that has now taken him all the way to the 2026 World Cup.
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