Why En-Nesyri Was Left Out of Morocco's 2026 World Cup Squad

The shock omission

Youssef En-Nesyri was one of the faces of Morocco's run to the Qatar 2022 semi-finals, scoring the iconic header that beat Portugal. So his absence from the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, announced on May 26, 2026, landed as a genuine surprise for many fans who assumed his place was secure.

He was not the only Qatar hero to miss out — Sofiane Boufal was also left at home — underlining that this was a deliberate squad reset rather than a one-off call. For a forward of En-Nesyri's pedigree, being cut from a World Cup squad is a significant moment in a national-team career.

A new coach with a new vision

The key context is the change in the dugout. Walid Regragui, who masterminded the Qatar run, resigned in March 2026, and Mohamed Ouahbi was appointed as the new head coach. A new manager often means a new identity, and Ouahbi signalled a shift toward a younger, more mobile forward line.

That generational tilt is the headline reason for En-Nesyri's exclusion. When a coach builds around younger options and a particular pressing and movement profile, established names can fall outside the plan even with strong reputations. Ouahbi backed his vision, and the Haiti comeback — won by substitutes — suggested the depth he picked can deliver.

The club-form factor

Selection is rarely about one thing, and form mattered too. After moving to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, En-Nesyri's output was not consistently convincing enough to force his way back into the picture under a coach already leaning toward fresher options. In a competitive striker pool, a dip in numbers leaves little margin.

Morocco's attacking riches made the decision easier to justify. With Brahim Diaz, Soufiane Rahimi and others available, Ouahbi could leave out a proven name and still field a forward group capable of winning knockout matches — exactly what happened against Haiti, where bench strikers decided the result.

What it means for Morocco

On the evidence of the group stage, the gamble has not backfired. Morocco reached the Round of 32 as Group C runners-up behind Brazil, and the squad showed it can score from multiple sources, including late substitutes. That flexibility is arguably worth more in a 48-team tournament than one fixed star striker.

Still, En-Nesyri's absence is a card Morocco no longer hold if a match calls for a powerful, aerial centre-forward to chase a goal. If the Atlas Lions hit a wall in a tight knockout tie, the debate over leaving him at home will reopen — but for now, Ouahbi's younger group is delivering.

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