Reinforcement ahead of the World Cup. Ligue 1 talent swaps French citizenship for Moroccan
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The Moroccan national team has scored a crucial victory on the personnel front: they've secured one of the most sought-after talents in today’s Ligue 1.
Details: According to Foot Mercato, Lille midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi has made a final decision to represent the Moroccan national team. The young midfielder, pursued by Europe’s top clubs, opted to play for his ancestral homeland over France.
The confirmation of his change in sporting nationality came after Didier Deschamps announced France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup—with Bouaddi’s name notably absent from the list.
This fully validated Morocco’s plan: the player deliberately waited for this moment to make his commitment official. Now, Bouaddi is considered one of Morocco’s brightest hopes for the upcoming World Cup.
It’s worth noting that this season he has played 41 matches for Lille across all competitions, registering just one assist.
Reminder: The French national team has announced its final squad for the World Cup.
