Ouahbi stays on as Morocco coach after World Cup exit

Ouahbi stays, Morocco choose continuity

Mohamed Ouahbi is staying on as Morocco head coach. The federation made the call after Thursday's World Cup quarterfinal exit against France (1) (4). No interim period, no search. Ouahbi continues into the next cycle (2) (3). His contract was not in doubt, the decision came quickly after the elimination, with the federation backing the project he has built since taking over.

The France quarterfinal that ended the run

Morocco are out of the 2026 World Cup. France knocked your team out in the quarterfinals, the same stage where the 2022 fairytale ended. The match sparked frustration, time management and officiating decisions became talking points after the final whistle (1) (4). Morocco were the only African side to reach the last eight, and once again they pushed a superpower to the limit without quite breaking through.

Fan reactions

The mood among supporters is split between pride and that familiar ache. Most fans see Ouahbi staying as the right call, continuity after two straight quarterfinals, a project that is not finished. The France defeat stings, but the bigger conversation is already shifting to what this group can do next. Yamal never came, but Brahim and Bouaddi did, and that recruitment drive has changed the ceiling for this team. Read the full discussion on Reddit.