Sofiane Boufal Focused on Le Havre Mission, Not World Cup Talk

The midfielder says he is not obsessed with playing in the World Cup, arguing international duties will naturally follow if club performances are good.

Ahead of last week’s emotionally charged trip to face his former club Angers, Sofiane Boufal spoke with clarity and restraint.

For the first time since joining Le Havre AC during the winter transfer window, the Moroccan international opened up about his start, his role, and his priorities. His tone was measured and showed a player focused on the present, not the noise around it.

While he acknowledged a steady physical improvement on a personal level, Boufal remained honest about inconsistency in his performances, partly due to recent injuries that disrupted his rhythm.

“Physically, I feel better and better. Overall, the balance is positive,” he said.

In a competitive squad, he has embraced the internal competition he’s facing rather than resisted it. Boufal is aware that nothing is guaranteed and that every place must be earned week after week.

Sofiane Boufal’s first goal with Le Havre 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/isLwWkVvKj

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 19, 2026

That mindset also shapes how he views bigger-picture ambitions, including the 2026 World Cup.

Asked about his chances with Morocco, he shut down the idea of obsession.

“I didn’t sign here to play the World Cup,” he offered. “I don’t wake up thinking I need to go to the World Cup, we’re here to talk about Le Havre, not Morocco.”

His message was straightforward: club performance comes first. If international opportunities follow, they will come naturally and not by forcing the narrative.

For now, the urgency is elsewhere. Le Havre are fighting to stay up, and Boufal knows exactly what is expected. Survival is the priority, and everything else is secondary.

That same realism applies to his future. While he admits to being happy at the club, he refuses to look too far ahead.

“I’m very happy here… but we can’t talk about the future without reaching the objective.” Club objective that is. Boufal wants to secure that mission first. Then everything else can follow.