Mohamed Ouahbi is the surprise story of the World Cup 2026 dugout. A youth coach who lifted the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Morocco in 2025, he was handed the senior job just months before the tournament — and has taken the Atlas Lions all the way to the last 16. For the bigger picture, see our World Cup 2026 hub.
Who is Mohamed Ouahbi?
Born in Brussels in 1976 to a Moroccan family, Ouahbi spent years in the Anderlecht academy, coaching age groups from the youngest juniors up to the under-21s. In 2022 he took charge of Morocco’s under-20 side, and it was there that he made his name.
The U-20 World Cup that changed everything
Ouahbi’s defining moment came in 2025, when he guided Morocco to the FIFA U-20 World Cup title, beating Argentina 2-0 in the final. It was a landmark triumph for Moroccan football and marked him out as one of the country’s brightest coaching talents.
Replacing Walid Regragui
When Walid Regragui — the man who led Morocco to a historic World Cup semi-final in 2022 and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title — resigned in March 2026, the federation turned to Ouahbi. Promoted from the under-20s just months before the finals, he inherited a golden generation and a weight of expectation.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s honours
| Team | Honours |
|---|---|
| Morocco U-20 | FIFA U-20 World Cup (2025) |
That U-20 world title, sealed against Argentina, remains the standout entry on his CV — and he is now writing a new chapter with the senior side.
Morocco at the World Cup 2026
Ouahbi’s Morocco have been superb. They opened with a battling 1-1 draw against Brazil, before beating Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2 to come through the group. In the Round of 32 they knocked out the Netherlands on penalties, captain Achraf Hakimi leading from the front, to reach the last 16.
Through to the last 16
Morocco’s reward for their shootout win over the Netherlands is a last-16 tie with co-hosts Canada. Ouahbi, so recently a youth coach, is now within touching distance of matching Regragui’s semi-final heroics of 2022.
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Mohamed Ouahbi is the head coach of Morocco’s men’s national team, appointed in March 2026. A Brussels-born coach of Moroccan descent, he won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Morocco in 2025 before taking the senior job.
Mohamed Ouahbi replaced Walid Regragui, who resigned in March 2026, stepping up from Morocco’s under-20 team just months before the World Cup 2026.
Ouahbi won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Morocco in 2025, beating Argentina 2-0 in the final.
Morocco reached the last 16, beating the Netherlands on penalties in the Round of 32, and face co-hosts Canada next.