Morocco’s World Cup Squad Omits Munir El Haddadi Despite FIFA Rule Change

Born in Madrid, Munir El Haddadi climbed the ranks at FC Barcelona. He even played in the Catalan club’s first team during the pre-season and the 2014-15 season, where he scored several goals. His performances led the Spanish national team to call him up. The striker of Moroccan origin thus made his official debut on September 14, 2014 in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against North Macedonia (5-1).

His entry into the Spanish national team ruined his chances of being able to play for another national team, including Morocco. But Munir and his agents began to consider the possibility of playing for Morocco. After several complaints and lawsuits, FIFA finally modified the regulations, now allowing footballers who had chosen their first national team at a very young age to change teams.

Munir El Haddadi thus made his debut with Morocco in March 2021 in a match against Mauritania as part of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which ended in a goalless draw. In another match against Burundi a few days later, he scored his first goal for the Moroccan national team.

But the departure of the former national coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, with whom he made his debut, and the arrival of Walid Regragui, the new coach, would have played against him, analyzes Bitbol, specifying that the latter probably has his preferences of which he does not seem to be a part. Just like Halilhodzic did not like to call up Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), for example. In the end, Munir El Haddadi, 27, will not participate in the World Cup for which he fought so hard. But it may just be postponed.