FIFA has cleared Fulham defender Issa Diop and Ajax midfielder Rayane Bounida to switch their international allegiance to Morocco, the latest additions to the North African nation's ambitious recruitment drive. The 29-year-old Diop, a former France youth international, and 20-year-old Bounida, who played for Belgium's youth teams, both have direct family ties to Morocco that allow them to change national eligibility under FIFA rules.

This month's approvals bring Morocco's total to seven new players recruited for the 2026 World Cup campaign, with 16 such changes since March 2023. The moves reflect Morocco's strategy under federation president Fouzi Lekjaa to tap into the European diaspora, building on the success of the 2022 World Cup semifinalists who included stars like Hakim Ziyech and Sofyan Amrabat.

The new additions join coach Mohamed Ouahbi's squad for upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay, as Morocco prepares for a group featuring Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti in the 2026 tournament. Morocco also secured direct entry to the 2030 World Cup as co-host with Spain and Portugal, plus games in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.