Walid Regragui will step down as Morocco coach before the 2026 World Cup

Walid Regragui resigned as Morocco coach on Thursday, just months before the 2026 World Cup, ending weeks of speculation about his future.

Regragui took Morocco to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar in 2022 and was also at the helm in January when Morocco lost in the Africa Cup of Nations final, but has retired citing exhaustion.

Mohamed Ouahbi will take over as coach, according to reports. He was in charge when Morocco won the U-20 World Cup in Chile last year.

Regragui, 50, had been the target of criticism from supporters despite a stellar record of 36 wins in 49 matches with eight draws and just five losses since taking charge in September 2022.

During that time, Morocco recorded the best performance by an African country at the World Cup and set a new world record for most consecutive wins by a national team – a total of 19 between June 2024 and last December.

According to multiple reports, Regragui had wanted to quit after Morocco lost a controversial Nations Cup final to Senegal in January in a tournament where the country hoped to end 50 years without success in the continental championship.

He said he was exhausted after almost four years in the post but had been persuaded to postpone his decision until Morocco found a successor.

Morocco will play two friendly matches later this month in preparation for the World Cup, which starts in June. They will face Ecuador in Madrid on March 27 and Paraguay four days later in Lens, France.

At the World Cup, Morocco will compete in Group C with Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.

In a message to Regragui on social media, Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi said: «Thank you for the incredible job you did leading the Moroccan national team. Your leadership, passion and vision inspired not only the players, but an entire country and millions of fans around the world.»

Published on March 6, 2026