Transformation
I will not prepare differently for the match against Brazil, we have our own philosophy." With this statement before the opening match at the 2026 World Cup, Moroccan national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi emphasized that his team has undergone a profound transformation. The performance in the 1-1 draw further confirms that.
It's not at all like what they showed at the 2022 World Cup, the tournament where Morocco reached the semi-finals. This time, they are the ones who actively entered the game, and most of the time, the ball is in their feet instead of Brazil. The hunter has now become the hunted.
The performance against the national team from a country that has been 5 times world champion has summarized the evolution of Morocco. From a team largely thanks to patience, organization and the ability to finish off opponents at the right time, now, they are the ones who decide the game. They are no longer waiting for the door to open and breaking it themselves.
This is the mark of Ouahbi, who took over the team just 3 months before the 2026 World Cup to succeed Walid Regragui - the architect for the journey in Qatar. After leading U20 Morocco to the U20 World Cup 2025 championship, Ouahbi reshaped the national team in just a short time, establishing a new playing style.
That change is not an imitation of any school of thought, nor purely for aesthetics. It is part of a project to build a style originating from the qualities of Moroccan players: good personal technique, quick rotation, courageous ball reception and enough physical foundation to continuously move and press.
One of the highlights of the top teams today is the ability to quickly put the ball into the last 1/3 of the field without rushing to shoot. This is a principle that Ouahbi deeply ingrained in his student's thinking, although of course he does not ban long shots when possible. That composure is clearly shown in the match against the Netherlands. "The Atlas lions" dominated in ball possession. When the Netherlands became cautious after taking the lead, Morocco imposed rhythm, tightened the game without losing focus or seeking lucky crosses.
Not breaking the foundation
The comeback before the match was decided on penalties significantly strengthened the confidence of the whole team. Of course, the new style also requires players to be able to realize it and Ouahbi is lucky to find more than one piece to complete the picture. Leading among them is one of the breakthrough stars of the 2026 World Cup, Ayyoub Bouaddi - an 18-year-old player who debuted for the national team in the match against Brazil. Lille's young talent has attracted attention thanks to his ability to connect lines, composure under pressure and excellent match reading skills - qualities that Ouahbi needs to strengthen Morocca's new identity. While new faces have realized Ouahbi's ideas, a few pillars from the success at Qatar 2022 are still creating a solid foundation for the present, led by Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi.
Ounahi maintains the fighting spirit that once ignited that historic journey, creating a team that looks more complete than ever. The confrontation with the French team will be the most challenging challenge. The match will reveal how well Ouahbi can balance between the heritage of 4 years ago and the new identity.
