Chemsdine Talbi’s story: From Sunderland to World Cup 2026 with Morocco

Chemsdine Talbi’s career has taken a remarkable leap over the past year, transforming him from one of Club Brugge’s brightest prospects into a Premier League performer and a member of Morocco’s national team setup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

At just 21 years old, the winger has already experienced significant milestones in both club and international football, with even bigger opportunities lying ahead.

Sunderland Move Sparks Breakthrough Season

Talbi first attracted widespread attention through a series of impressive performances for Club Brugge, particularly on the UEFA Champions League stage. His displays drew interest from several clubs during the summer of 2025, but the young winger opted to join newly promoted Sunderland.

It was a decision that paid off immediately.

Sunderland exceeded expectations by finishing seventh in the Premier League and securing qualification for European competition. Talbi played an important role in that achievement, contributing four goals and two assists during an impressive debut campaign in England.

Among his standout moments were crucial goals against Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle, with a dramatic late winner at Stamford Bridge standing out as his favourite memory of the season.

“The best moment was at Chelsea when I scored the winning goal in the last minutes,” Talbi told The National.

Despite initial concerns about adapting to one of the world’s most demanding leagues, the Moroccan international quickly found his footing.

“I was a little nervous about joining a competition as important as the Premier League,” he said. “But I think I did well.”

His fearless approach and ability to influence games quickly made him a popular figure among Sunderland supporters.

Choosing Morocco Over Belgium

The past year also marked a major turning point in Talbi’s international career.

Having represented Belgium at youth level, the winger faced a difficult decision regarding his senior international future. Ultimately, family ties and emotional attachment led him to choose Morocco.

“I had to think a long time before making my decision. I chose Morocco because of my family. I chose Morocco with my heart,” he explained.

Talbi’s connection to Morocco has always been strong. With family roots in Agadir, he frequently visited the country throughout his childhood and teenage years.

“I went to Morocco every year, two or three times a year,” he said. “I always try to go there to stay connected to my family.”

Valuable AFCON Experience

Talbi’s first major tournament experience came at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which was hosted by Morocco.

Although opportunities on the pitch were limited, the winger described the tournament as a significant learning experience and an important step in his international development.

“It was a great experience for me to participate in this AFCON, even if I didn’t play much. Just being with the team and playing an AFCON at home was something special,” he said.

The tournament allowed him to further integrate into the Atlas Lions setup and experience the environment of a major international competition.

Eyes Set on the 2026 World Cup

Talbi is now focused on earning a place in Morocco’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

After receiving a call-up from head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the Sunderland winger admits that representing his country on football’s biggest stage would be a dream come true.

“It’s a dream to play in a World Cup. It would be an honour to participate at my age, for my team and for my country,” he said.

“Morocco is like a family. They’ve built something different over the years.”

Talbi also reflected on his toughest Premier League opponents, naming fellow Moroccan international Noussair Mazraoui as the most difficult player he faced, ahead of Virgil van Dijk.

Ambition Driving the Next Chapter

Despite enjoying a successful first season with Sunderland, Talbi remains focused on continuous improvement and achieving his long-term goals.

“My ambition is to progress every day and, of course, to play in the biggest clubs in the world,” he said. “I think I can achieve this. I will continue to work hard to achieve my dream.”

With Sunderland preparing for European football and Morocco building towards another World Cup campaign, the coming months could prove pivotal for one of the country’s most exciting young talents.

At 21, Talbi’s story is only beginning, but his rise suggests there may be many more milestones still to come.