Morocco's Regragui Resigns Just Months Before 2026 World Cup in North America

The football world has been stunned by news that Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui has resigned from his role with fewer than 100 days remaining until the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins across North America, including matches in Canada.

During a Thursday evening press conference held with Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan Football Federation, Regragui confirmed his decision to step away. "Morocco requires fresh leadership, different energy, and a renewed outlook under new management," Regragui stated. The departing coach emphasized his belief that the national squad needs an alternative vision to continue its development before football's premier global competition.

The 50-year-old tactician earned legendary status by guiding Morocco to the 2022 World Cup semifinals—an unprecedented achievement for both African and Arab nations. However, mounting pressure followed Morocco's devastating 1-0 defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations championship match this past January. The loss proved particularly painful as Morocco served as tournament host.

Ouahbi Takes the Reins

Mohamed Ouahbi has been appointed as Regragui's successor. The 49-year-old Belgian-Moroccan coach previously guided Morocco's under-20 squad to victory at the Youth World Cup. This marks Ouahbi's debut managing a senior international side, representing a significant step up in responsibility.

"My role isn't to rebuild—the groundwork is already established. I'm here to maintain excellence," Ouahbi declared with assurance. He's recruited Joao Sacramento as assistant manager—a Portuguese coach who's collaborated with Jose Mourinho at Roma and Tottenham, and also worked at Paris Saint-Germain.

For those monitoring Morocco's tournament prospects, this managerial switch introduces notable uncertainty. The Atlas Lions have been drawn into Group C alongside Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland—a challenging yet navigable group. Oddsmakers are expected to revise their lines following Ouahbi's team performances in upcoming friendlies against Ecuador (March 27) and Paraguay (March 31).

Timing of the Decision

Despite his World Cup achievements, Regragui encountered increasing scrutiny. Morocco hasn't captured a continental championship since 1975, and expectations soared following their 2022 breakthrough. Critics took issue with perceived overly cautious tactical approaches, particularly after underwhelming tournament showings.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi honoured his departing coach through social media, describing Regragui as a "legend" whose "leadership, commitment, and strategy motivated not just the squad, but an entire nation and countless supporters worldwide."

Morocco's long-term sporting ambitions are evident. The nation is committing billions toward athletic facilities and will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. Construction is underway on the Hassan II Stadium, projected to become the planet's largest football stadium with 115,000-seat capacity. Given such substantial aspirations, Moroccan football officials evidently determined a coaching change was necessary to optimize their 2026 tournament prospects.