World Cup 2026: Morocco Suffers Two Injury Setbacks Before Brazil Clash

Morocco suffered two early blows ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Brazil. Just days before their opening match, the Atlas Lions were forced into two injury-related changes to their squad.

Winger Abde Ezzalzouli and defender Nayef Aguerd have both been ruled out, leaving head coach Mohamed Ouahbi with important decisions to make ahead of one of the toughest opening fixtures in the competition.

For a team hoping to recreate the magic of their historic 2022 World Cup run, the timing could hardly be worse.

Injuries Force Last-Minute Squad Changes

The first setback came with the loss of Ezzalzouli. The Real Betis winger suffered a knee injury during Morocco’s friendly against Norway last weekend and will now miss the tournament.

In response, Morocco have called up Angers forward Amine Sbai as his replacement.

Meanwhile, experienced centre-back Aguerd has also been withdrawn from the squad. The Marseille defender has not featured since March after undergoing surgery for a groin problem and has failed to recover in time for the World Cup.

Saudi-based defender Marwane Saadane has been drafted in to replace him.

A Difficult Challenge Before Facing Brazil

The withdrawals are particularly concerning because both players were part of Morocco’s memorable World Cup squad in 2022.

Four years ago, Morocco made history by becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup. That remarkable run inspired millions across the globe and raised expectations for this year’s tournament.

However, the defensive situation is now far from ideal. Veteran captain Romain Saiss has retired from international football, while Adam Masina remains unavailable after suffering an injury during the Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year.

As a result, Ouahbi enters the tournament with limited experience in defence, especially when compared to previous Moroccan squads.

Morocco’s World Cup journey will begin against Brazil in New Jersey on Saturday in what promises to be one of the standout matches of the opening round.

The Atlas Lions will then face Scotland and Haiti as they look to secure a place in the knockout stages.