Atlas Lions 2.0: Morocco’s Strategic Bet on Youth for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Rabat – The Moroccan national football team currently holds an average age of 25.2 years old, according to recent squad data and international statistics, positioning it among the youngest national teams ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This figure shows recent selections made during friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay, where the coaching staff, led by coach Mohammed Ouahbi, prioritized younger players as part of an ongoing squad renewal process.

At the continental level, Morocco’s average age is lower than several African teams according to Transfermarkt. Tunisia’s national football team average is around 25.5 years, while Ivory Coast’s national football team and Algeria’s national football team stand at approximately 25.9 years. Senegal’s national football team reached 26.8 years, whereas Egypt’s national football team has an average age of around 29 years.

A similar gap appears when compared to Arab national teams. Saudi Arabia’s national football team (27.9) and Iraq’s national football team (26.5) also exceed Morocco’s figures.

Globally, Morocco’s squad profile aligns with a broader trend toward younger teams. National sides such as the US men’s national soccer team (26.4), Japan’s national football team (26.4), and France’s national football team (26.9) operate within a similar range, although still slightly above Morocco’s most recent average.

The current approach balances the integration of emerging talent with the retention of experienced leaders, such as Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou. 

This strategy is spearheaded by head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who succeeded Walid Regragui in March. Under Ouahbi’s guidance, the squad has seen a significant injection of youth, particularly from the U20 Atlas Cubs team that he recently led to a World Cup title.

This age structure places Morocco within the group of national teams focusing on long-term squad development while preparing for upcoming international competitions.

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