World Cup 2026: Morocco FA President challenges Lamine Yamal ahead of potential Spain showdown

Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has revealed his desire to see Morocco face Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting such a meeting would provide the perfect opportunity to revisit Lamine Yamal’s decision to represent La Roja.

The Barcelona star was eligible to play for both Spain and Morocco before committing his international future to the European nation. Now preparing for his first World Cup campaign with Spain, Yamal remains a player many Moroccan supporters believe could have worn the Atlas Lions shirt.

Lekjaa has not hidden his admiration for the teenager and admitted he would welcome a World Cup final clash between the two nations.

“I hope we meet him in a final to clarify whether he made the right choice,” he told Aljazeera360.

The debate surrounding Yamal’s international allegiance has continued since his decision to represent Spain. Former Morocco international Mustapha Hadji previously argued that the winger “made a mistake” by turning down the Atlas Lions, suggesting he would have received greater affection from supporters had he chosen Morocco.

Yamal, however, has consistently explained the reasons behind his decision, stressing his strong connection to Spain.

He said he chose Spain because he “always wanted to play a European Championship” and that “Spain was playing the Euros, I grew up here, and I feel this is my country.”

The possibility of a World Cup meeting between Morocco and Spain remains alive after both nations began their campaigns with different objectives.

Morocco opened their tournament with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, earning a valuable point against one of the competition’s favourites. Spain, meanwhile, continue their campaign with a Group stage encounter against Cape Verde on Monday.

While a final between the two countries remains a distant prospect, Lekjaa’s comments have added another intriguing subplot to the tournament, with Yamal’s international choice once again becoming a talking point on the global stage.