Morocco made football history in 2022: the Atlas Lions became the first African team ever to reach the semi-finals. Under manager Walid Regragui, who remains in charge, the aim is to build on this achievement in 2026. The opening match against Brazil at MetLife Stadium will be watched with great anticipation around the world.

Manager Mohamed Ouahbi has named three goalkeepers for the Atlas Lions: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui and Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti. Ranked 8th by FIFA, Morocco is the highest-ranked African nation in the entire tournament and will face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti in Group C. The trio of goalkeepers comprises the 2022 World Cup semi-final hero, the group’s longest-serving international, and a young goalkeeper who has made a comeback following a serious knee injury.

Bounou is 35 years old and the undisputed number one. His name is inextricably linked with the 2022 World Cup fairy tale: he became the first goalkeeper ever to lead an African team to the semi-finals – with saves against Belgium, Spain and Portugal that have gone down in the history of the tournament. Against Spain, he saved all three penalties in the shoot-out. The fact that he had to be withdrawn from the warm-up for the match against Belgium due to feeling unwell, with Munir El Kajoui stepping in, remained the only blemish on an otherwise flawless tournament.

His club career took him from Wydad Casablanca via Atlético Madrid B, Real Zaragoza, Girona and, most notably, Sevilla – where in 2021/22 he won the Zamora Trophy as La Liga’s best goalkeeper, won the Europa League twice and was nominated for the Yashin Trophy. Since 2023, he has been playing for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where he has won the Saudi Pro League and the Super Cup with the club. This season, he has made 20 appearances and kept ten clean sheets. His contract runs until 2028. Standing at 195 cm tall, with explosive reflexes and an extraordinary presence in goal, Bounou is the keeper who can lead Morocco to something historic.

Munir, whose real name is Munir Mohand Mohamedi, is 37 years old and the most experienced goalkeeper of the trio. With over 50 international caps since his debut in 2015, he has three World Cup appearances (2018, 2022, 2026) and five AFCON tournaments under his belt – including the title win in 2025. In Qatar 2022, he stepped in at short notice against Belgium when Bounou fell ill, and made a commanding impression. His career path has taken him through Ceuta, Almería, Melilla, Numancia, Málaga, Hatayspor and Al Wehda, before he moved to RS Berkane in the domestic Botola Pro as captain in July 2024. At RS Berkane, he led his club to the CAF Champions League in 2024/25. Munir is Ouahbi’s reliable second choice – someone who can step in at any moment.

Tagnaouti is 30 years old and has been through what would have ended many a career. In March 2023, he underwent knee surgery at Wydad AC, which sidelined him for over a year. This was followed by spells at Maghreb de Fès and MA Tétouan, before moving to AS FAR Rabat in July 2025 – where he immediately became the first-choice goalkeeper and, with ten clean sheets in 14 league matches this season, helped make his club one of the strongest defensive sides in the Botola Pro. He also put in strong performances in the CAF Champions League against Al Ahly and Young Africans. His journey into the World Cup squad began back in 2018 – he was part of the squad in Russia that year, though he did not play. He was also part of the squad in 2022. 2026 marks his third attempt.