The Moroccan national team has suffered significant losses ahead of the 2026 World Cup
11 June 19:09
The coaching staff of the Moroccan national team has confirmed that two key players will be unable to help the team in the opening matches of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup due to injuries.
This was reported by ESPN, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The Moroccan national team was forced to make changes to its roster due to injuries to Abde Ezzalzuli and Nayef Agherd.
According to ESPN, Betis winger Abde was injured during a friendly match against Norway on June 7.
“This is a serious loss for us, but we remain optimistic,” a team representative said.
Agerd, a defender, has not played since March due to a groin injury, so the coaching staff decided to exclude him from the roster.
Marouan Saadan of Al-Fateh and Angers striker Amin Sbaï were called up to replace the injured players.
This decision allows the team to maintain balance and prepare for upcoming challenges.
“We believe in our new players and their ability to make a significant contribution to the game,” the head coach added.
First Match at the 2026 World Cup
Morocco will play its first match at the 2026 World Cup on June 14 against Brazil.
Changes to Brazil’s Roster
Interestingly, the Brazil head coach was also forced to urgently replace an injured star on the 2026 World Cup roster.
READ ALSO: The 2026 World Cup kicks off today: who will open the tournament and where to watch the match in Ukraine
As a reminder, the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off today. The opening match of the tournament will be between the national teams of Mexico and South Africa.
Bookmakers consider the home team to be the favorite. The odds for a Mexico win are 1.42, for a draw — 4.78, and for a South Africa win — 8.59
