Lamine Yamal face Morocco threat as snub fuels World Cup challenge: Meet us in the final and prove you chose right

Lamine Yamal chose to play for Spain over Morocco in 2023

Updated on: Jun 14, 2026, 21:22:39 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Lamine Yamal's decision to represent Spain over Morocco in 2023 despite his dual heritage still stings for Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). Not only did he recall the efforts made to convince the Barcelona star to choose Morocco, but he also issued a playful challenge, saying he would like Spain to face Morocco in a World Cup final to find out whether Yamal made the right decision.

Spain's Lamine Yamal during training (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Lekjaa made the remark with a touch of irony during a recent appearance on the platform Aljazeera360. He stressed that he respects Yamal's choice and wishes him success despite his disappointment.

"Now I hope we meet Spain in the World Cup final to see whether he really made the right decision or not," Lekjaa said.

The FRMF president also recalled how Morocco made every effort to engage with Yamal during the recruitment process. Officials presented the country's footballing project and maintained constant contact with the youngster, including arranging a meeting with then-national team coach Walid Regragui, who guided Morocco to a historic World Cup semi-final run in Qatar in 2022.

"Let me speak frankly and clearly. As for Lamine Yamal, we contacted him, and he is Moroccan through his father," Lekjaa said.

Lekjaa also pointed out that Yamal shared close ties with several Moroccan players, including Abde Ezzalzouli, his former teammate in Barcelona's youth academy.

"More than that, he had a Moroccan friend, Abde Ezzalzouli, who was with him at Barcelona. They played in the same youth category and progressed through the ranks together," he added.

Yamal is set to make his World Cup debut on Monday when Spain face Cabo Verde in a Group H clash. Morocco, meanwhile, served another reminder of their growing stature on Saturday, with the reigning African champions holding Brazil to a 1-1 draw in their Group C opener in New Jersey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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