​FOXBOROUGH, MA — In the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, Ayyoub Bouaddi chose to represent Morocco at the senior international level after spending his youth career within France’s football program. He has stood by that decision with obvious pride, even after Morocco was eliminated from the tournament by France in a 2-0 quarterfinal defeat. “No regrets whatsoever,” Bouaddi said following the match when asked how he felt about his choice, per a FIFA translation. “I’m really proud that I chose Morocco.”
Bouaddi was born in France to Moroccan parents, giving him the option to play for either nation on the international stage. At first, it appeared Bouaddi might don the French national colors, having earned 27 caps for France across various youth teams. Yet, on May 15—less than a month before the start of the 2026 World Cup—the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced that Bouaddi would be joining the Atlas Lions. The decision was driven in part by the opportunity to participate in the World Cup itself, a milestone Bouaddi clearly valued.
Morocco’s manager, Mohamed Ouahbi, publicly guaranteed that the 18-year-old would be part of the Atlas Lions’ squad and would receive playing time, according to ESPN’s Julien Laurens. Even with that assurance, Bouaddi stressed after the quarterfinal match that his decision transcends mere minutes on the pitch. “This is my heart that decided this,” he said. “I’m here and I’m proud to represent Morocco.”
With Morocco exiting the tournament, Bouaddi’s World Cup journey has concluded, but his experience as a teenager on football’s biggest stage has already shaped his outlook. He played in five of Morocco’s six matches, did not tally his first international goal, but earned a place in history as the second-youngest player to start a World Cup quarterfinal, surpassed only by Pelé.
Looking forward, Bouaddi remains buoyed by the path ahead. He acknowledged the disappointment of the quarterfinal elimination but emphasized a forward-looking mindset. “Whatever happens, we will always wear our jersey with pride,” he said. “We want to ensure that the Moroccan people are proud of us, and we know what we must do next time to advance even further.”
This piece originated with USA TODAY, highlighting Bouaddi’s decision to represent Morocco over France and his reflections on a pivotal moment in his career. He insists there are no regrets about the choice, and he remains hopeful about the future contributions he can make to Moroccan football.