Morocco World Cup 2026: Ouahbi’s meritocratic revolution no guaranteed spots

The national team’s boss has been crystal clear about his new selection philosophy. There will be no more favoritism or untouchable senior players within the squad. Players will have to fight daily to hope for a spot in the final roster. Mohamed Ouahbi insists on an inflexible rule: only the most in-form and highest-performing players will be called up. The hierarchy remains deliberately fragile, since an average performance or a minor physical setback can completely reshuffle the deck.

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The message directed straight at the dressing room is meant to be cutting. During an interview with beIN Sports, the coach hammered home that his system is based exclusively on competition at every position. This strict determination to give playing time to each profile during warm-up matches aims to keep the entire group under pressure. As a result, absolutely no team member has a guaranteed place for the next major global tournament.

While his contract with the federation runs until 2030, his focus remains 100% on the 2026 deadline. The ambition is to reach the peak of competitiveness required in the short term in order to build tomorrow’s foundations. The coach also refuses to be hindered by the label of great favorite and immediately rules out any comparison with the 2022 Qatar epic. For him, modern football offers no certainty of repetition and demands constant self-questioning.

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To implement this relentless meritocracy, the coach has surrounded himself with a staff tailored for the upcoming challenges. He recruited Joao Sacramento, chosen very quickly for his analytical mind and his ability to challenge him tactically. Alongside him, former striker Youssef Hadji, the favorite from the start, ensures direct connection with the players while maintaining essential professional distance, thus guaranteeing the demands of this new uncompromising cycle.