Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has committed to Morocco’s national team over France, following reports that he would not be considered under Didier Deschamps’ latest squad.
The 18-year-old’s decision puts him in position for Morocco’s 2026 World Cup lineup.
Bouaddi, the youngest player in European competition history with high passing accuracy, represents a significant talent boost for Morocco’s midfield as a dual-national prospect.
Born on October 2, 2007 in Senlis, France, Bouaddi became the youngest player ever in a UEFA Conference League match at 16 years and 3 days old during his senior debut for Lille in 2023.
He also became the youngest player to start a UEFA Champions League match for Lille against Real Madrid on October 2, 2024 — his 17th birthday. Bouaddi was highly praised for his performance in the 1–0 home win against Real Madrid.
His switch from France to Morocco highlights a common pattern in football where young players with Moroccan heritage opt for the Atlas Lions when opportunities with France are limited.
Morocco has a strong history of successfully recruiting dual-national players, particularly those of Moroccan heritage born or raised in Europe (especially France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain). This strategy has been key to building competitive squads, as shown by their impressive 2022 World Cup performance and continued preparations for 2026.
Morocco will face Brazil on June 14 in their opening game of Group C at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Some Dual Nationals Who Chose Morocco
Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid): Born in Málaga, Spain, to a Spanish mother and Moroccan father, Díaz played once for Spain’s senior team but switched to Morocco in 2024. He has become a key player and goal scorer for the Atlas Lions.
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen): Born in Saint-Tropez, France, Ben Seghir switched to Morocco in 2024 after involvement with French youth teams.
Issa Diop (Fulham): Diop’s switch of allegiance from France to Morocco was approved by FIFA in late March 2026, with his debut for the Atlas Lions coming on March 27, 2026. The 29-year-old defender, who previously played for France at under-21 level, was immediately drafted into the starting lineup for a friendly against Ecuador in Madrid.
Achraf Hakimi (PSG): Born in Madrid, Spain, to Moroccan parents, Hakimi was eligible for both Spain and Morocco. He cited his Moroccan culture, family values, and a feeling of not fitting in with the Spanish setup — despite trying it out — as reasons for choosing Morocco.
Hakim Ziyech (former Chelsea/Galatasaray): Ziyech was born in Dronten, Netherlands, and played for Dutch youth national teams. He confirmed his commitment to represent Morocco at senior international level in 2015. He cited his roots and family heritage as reasons for choosing Morocco.
Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina): Born in Huizen, Netherlands, Amrabat made his senior international debut for Morocco in March 2017, choosing to represent the nation of his parents over the Netherlands. Despite playing for Dutch youth teams, he switched to Morocco permanently to follow in his brother Nordin Amrabat’s footsteps, making his debut in a friendly against Tunisia.
Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United): Born in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands, Mazraoui was eligible to represent both the Netherlands and Morocco but chose Morocco at senior international level in September 2018. He had played for Morocco at under-20 level before making his senior debut in September 2018 against Malawi.
