Pakistan, May 17 — Ayyoub Bouaddi, who was born in France, has received permission to play for Morocco just under a month ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced on Friday that they had obtained approval from FIFA’s Status Chamber to alter Bouaddi’s sporting nationality, allowing him to immediately qualify for Morocco in all international matches.
“This decision confirms that Ayyoub Bouaddi is now officially and immediately eligible to play for the Moroccan national team in various international competitions,” the FRMF statement noted. Born in Senlis, located north of Paris, Bouaddi, an 18-year-old, plays for the French Ligue 1 club Lille. Prior to selecting Morocco, the midfielder represented the French under-21 team. Morocco made history by becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022. The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The Atlas Lions will start their campaign on June 13 in New Jersey against Brazil in Group C, which also features Scotland and Haiti.
