Ayyoub Bouaddi has 'no regrets' about choosing Morocco after World Cup exit

FOXBOROUGH, MA – Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Ayyoub Bouaddi decided he would play for Morocco in senior-level international play after spending his youth career with France's program.

Bouaddi made it clear that he is happy with his decision, even after Morocco was eliminated from the competition by France in a 2-0 quarterfinal defeat.

"No regrets whatsoever," Bouaddi said after the match when asked how he was feeling about his decision, per FIFA translation. "I'm really proud that I chose Morocco."

Bouaddi was born in France to Moroccan parents. That gave him the option to represent either nation in international play.

Originally, it seemed Bouaddi would represent France after recording 27 caps for the country across various youth levels. However, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation – the country's governing body for the sport – announced Bouaddi would be joining it on May 15, less than a month before the 2026 World Cup began.

The decision was partly about an opportunity to be a part of the 2026 World Cup. While Bouaddi had no assurances he would make France's 26-man squad, Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi guaranteed the 18-year-old would be a part of the Atlas Lions' roster and receive playing time, per ESPN's Julien Laurens.

Even so, Bouaddi insisted after Thursday's match his decision went beyond playing time.

"This is my heart that decided this," he said. "I'm here and I'm proud to represent Morocco."

With Morocco eliminated, Bouaddi's first World Cup is officially in the books. The 18-year-old played in five of Morocco's six matches, failing to score his first goal for his country but becoming the second-youngest player to start a World Cup quarterfinal, behind only Brazil's legendary Pelé.

So, while Bouaddi was disappointed by Morocco's quarterfinal exit, the young midfielder remains optimistic about how the team will fare in future tournaments.

"Whatever happens we will always play for our jersey," Bouaddi said. "We want to make sure that the Moroccan people are proud of us, and we know what we'll have to do next time to advance even more."

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