Ayoube Amaimouni of Eintracht Frankfurt and Bilal El Khannouss of VfB Stuttgart have both been named in Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada this summer.
The inclusion of Amaimouni marks a rapid ascent for the 21-year-old midfielder, who was playing in the German fifth tier with SpVgg Erkenschwick just two years ago. He joined Frankfurt on January 2nd, 2026, and quickly established himself as a key player, contributing 3 goals and 2 assists in 17 Bundesliga appearances this season.
El Khannouss, 22, recently completed a permanent transfer to Stuttgart after a successful loan spell, and has also been a standout performer. He featured in 41 matches across all competitions for the club, registering 9 goals and 5 assists, cementing his place in the national team setup. The permanent deal with Stuttgart followed a successful period where he demonstrated his attacking prowess and versatility in midfield.
Morocco’s squad also includes established stars such as Achraf Hakimi, currently at Paris Saint-Germain and formerly of Borussia Dortmund, and Noussair Mazraoui of Bayern Munich, providing experience and quality to the team’s defensive line. However, Bayer Leverkusen’s Eliesse Ben Seghir has been ruled out of the tournament due to an ongoing ankle injury, according to reports.
The call-ups for both Amaimouni and El Khannouss reflect their impressive form in the Bundesliga and signal a potential changing of the guard within the Moroccan midfield. Their inclusion adds further depth and dynamism to a squad hoping to build on their semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
