Morocco U-17 World Cup squad: Kantari names 21 players

Morocco’s under-17 head coach Ahmed Kantari unveiled in Rabat on Tuesday the 21 players who will represent the Kingdom at the U-17 World Cup in Qatar, running from November 19 to December 13.

The final list includes three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and six forwards. A communiqué from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) put the number of national teams taking part in the tournament at 48.

Spain, Fiji and China in Group H

The draw for the first round placed the Atlas Cubs in Group H, alongside Spain, Fiji and China.

Morocco arrive at this edition after reaching the quarter-finals of the previous one, also held in Qatar, in 2025. The Kingdom booked its place in the finals by advancing to the last eight of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, which it hosted.

Five players from the academy

Kantari’s selection mixes players developed in Morocco with others playing for European clubs. Among them are Chelsea’s Ibrahim Rabaj, Olympique de Marseille’s Ziyad Baha, Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Elian Hadidi and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Adam Mouak.

The Mohammed VI Football Academy supplies five members of the squad.

Full squad list

Goalkeepers: Adam Mouak (Paris Saint-Germain), Ryan Al-Yaqoubi (Gent), Mohamed Haroush (Mohammed VI Football Academy).

Defenders: Adam Bouahadi (Mohammed VI Football Academy), Ayman Al-Zarki (Mohammed VI Football Academy), Wael Jassim (Neuchâtel Xamax), Mehdi Mostafa Lahmadi (Metz), Saifen Dine Meshfouq (Mohammed VI Football Academy), Adam Al-Souidi (Toulouse), Mohamed Habib Zeinbi (Atlético Madrid).

Midfielders: Bilal Affas (Nahda Berkane), Elian Hadidi (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Nassim Larrij (Nice), Mohamed Amine Oubacrim (Nahda Berkane), Imran Al-Tali (Ajax Amsterdam).

Forwards: Ziyad Baha (Olympique de Marseille), Ismail Al-Oud (Valencia), Anas Al-Khazri (Mohammed VI Football Academy), Wahib Al-Antari (Angers), Rami Loqmani (Anderlecht), Ibrahim Rabaj (Chelsea).

The competition kicks off in Qatar on November 19, with the final set for December 13.