Xavi is the most prominent candidate to succeed Regragui as leader of the “Atlas Lions”

With rumors circulating about Walid Regragui’s departure from the Moroccan national team, press reports stated that Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona coach, is the most prominent candidate to succeed Regragui at the head of the “Atlas Lions” coaching staff.
The Spanish newspaper “Marca”, citing private sources, reported that officials at the Royal Moroccan Football League see Xavi as the most prominent candidate to succeed Regragui.
On Tuesday, the university denied the news circulating about its separation from Walid Regragui, after reports emerged that Regragui had submitted his resignation from the position he had held since 2022.
Marca considered that the issue of Regragui’s departure has become settled despite repeated denials and the lack of any official announcement, stressing that this will not happen until after hiring a replacement coach.
The source indicated that Moroccan officials are convinced that Xavi, who left Barcelona a year and a half ago, is the ideal choice to lead the “Atlas Lions” in the 2026 World Cup, although the Spanish coach does not prefer to take over teams halfway.
Xavi will be required to maintain the fourth place achieved by the “Atlas Lions” in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
According to the newspaper, Xavi’s joining Morocco remains dependent on two things. The first is the official announcement of Regragui’s departure, which was affected after the loss of the African Cup of Nations final to the Senegalese team, which accompanied the team’s path of pressure.
The second is to negotiate with Xavi, who the newspaper said does not prefer to receive projects halfway, noting that he prefers major projects from the beginning, but Morocco is only four months away from the 2026 World Cup.
The “Atlas Lions” are preparing to compete in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, in a group that includes Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.