Walid Regragui steps down as Morocco Head Coach

Just over three months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Walid Regragui announced on Thursday evening that he is stepping down as head coach of the Morocco national football team.

The decision was made public during a ceremony broadcast live on a Moroccan television station.

“I leave my role with loyalty, gratitude and the certainty that I have served my country,” the Moroccan coach said, visibly emotional.

During three and a half years in charge of the Atlas Lions, Regragui—named CAF Coach of the Year at the 2022 CAF Awards—left a significant mark on the history of the Moroccan national team.

Appointed in the summer of 2022, he led Morocco to a remarkable campaign at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, guiding the Atlas Lions to a historic semi-final in Qatar and becoming the first African coach to achieve such a feat.

More recently, during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco, the tactician guided his side to the final after an intense tournament that remains memorable for fans.

His departure closes a significant chapter in the history of the Atlas Lions.

Meanwhile, Morocco has begun a new phase in its national team journey after the Royal Moroccan Football Federation accepted his resignation only months before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The decision follows a period of uncertainty after Morocco’s defeat in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a result that sparked debate about the future direction of the national team.