Walid Regragui
Moroccan football manager who guided Morocco to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals — the best African performance in tournament history — and retained the role for 2026.
Last refreshed: 11 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can Morocco back up their 2022 semi-final magic against a depleted but dangerous Brazil?
Timeline for Walid Regragui
Prepared Morocco to face a Neymar-less Brazil as favourites to take points
2026 FIFA World Cup: Brazil draw Morocco short of forwards- How far did Morocco go in the 2022 World Cup?
- Morocco reached the semi-finals in Qatar 2022, defeating Spain and Portugal before losing to France. They became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.Source: event
- Who are Morocco's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
- Despite losing forwards Cheddira and En-Nesyri to injury, Morocco can call on Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Azzedine Ounahi from the squad that reached the 2022 semi-finals.Source: event
- Who does Morocco play first at the 2026 World Cup?
- Morocco face a Neymar-less Brazil on 13 June 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in their opening group-stage fixture.Source: event
Background
Walid Regragui is a Moroccan-French football manager and former international defender. He played over a decade for clubs in France and Morocco, earning 45 caps for Morocco. After retiring from playing, he built his management career in Moroccan club football, winning the 2021-22 CAF Champions League with Wydad AC before being appointed Morocco national team head coach in August 2022.
Regragui led Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, defeating Spain and Portugal along the way before losing to France. Morocco became the first African nation to reach a men's World Cup semi-final, a performance that transformed Regragui into one of the most respected tactical coaches in international football. He retained the squad's core, including Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui, through the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and into 2026 qualification.
At the 2026 World Cup, Morocco face a Neymar-less Brazil in the group stage on 13 June at MetLife Stadium, without their injured forwards Walid Cheddira and Youssef En-Nesyri. The Atlas Lions enter as one of the few sides with a proven ability to contain elite opposition, with Regragui's defensive organisation and set-piece delivery again central to their approach.