Eighteen-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has chosen to represent Morocco in the World Cup, rejecting an opportunity to play for France, the country of his birth. Bouaddi, who has represented France at every youth level and captained the U21 team at 17, felt he could not secure timely opportunities with the French senior team.

Despite his talent, evidenced by his professional debut at 16 for Lille and a standout performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League at 17, France coach Didier Deschamps did not call him up. Deschamps cited a deep midfield talent pool, including veterans like N'Golo Kanté, as a reason for not blocking younger players. New France coach Zinedine Zidane reportedly spoke with Bouaddi but offered no guarantees.

Morocco, conversely, guaranteed Bouaddi a spot in the 2026 World Cup squad and a starting role. This assurance, coupled with France's uncertainty, led Bouaddi to commit to the North African nation. He will now face France in the World Cup quarterfinal, alongside five other French-born teammates who also chose to play for Morocco.