FIFA’s Players’ Status Chamber approved the change of Ayyoub Bouaddi’s sporting nationality from France to Morocco on May 15, making the 18-year-old Lille midfielder eligible to play for Morocco in international competitions immediately [1, 2]. Born in France to Moroccan parents, Bouaddi had previously represented France at youth levels, including captaining the under-21 team in a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg [1, 2].
Bouaddi is considered one of Ligue 1’s brightest young talents, having made more than 90 appearances for Lille over three seasons [1, 2]. He also holds the record as the youngest player to feature in a European club competition match, having debuted at 16 years and 3 days old [1, 2]. Morocco has actively recruited dual-nationality players to bolster its squad, with notable examples like Issa Diop and Rayane Bounida [1, 2].
Morocco is set to compete in Group C alongside Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland at the FIFA World Cup running from June 11 to July 19, 2026, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico [1, 2]. The North African nation made history as the first African and Arab country to reach the World Cup semi-finals [1, 2].
With FIFA’s approval finalised just over two weeks before the tournament, Morocco can count on Bouaddi’s presence as it prepares for its opening matches on June 11 [1, 2].