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Rabat – Eintracht Frankfurt winger Ayoub Amaimouni is considered the biggest surprise in Morocco’s official 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup.
While stars like Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou anchor the team, the 21-year-old’s unexpected call-up has stolen the headlines.
His call-up completes a fast rise in professional football. Just two years ago, the young winger was playing in Germany’s fifth division. Following a strong start in the Bundesliga this year, he now goes from the amateur leagues straight to the World Cup stage.
Born in Vic, Spain, to parents of Moroccan descent, Amaimouni’s route to professional football was unconventional and filled with early setbacks.
He spent his youth career developing between local Spanish side CF Voltregà and various German academies, including Rot-Weiss Essen and Arminia Bielefeld.
When those clubs opted not to keep him, Amaimouni refused to give up, instead signing with fifth-tier amateur side SpVgg Erkenschwick in 2023.
His explosive form there sparked a rapid rise through TSG Hoffenheim’s reserve ranks, eventually landing him a major Bundesliga move to Eintracht Frankfurt.
By late 2025, German sports media began noticing Amaimouni’s strong performances. Eintracht Frankfurt moved quickly during the winter transfer window, signing the young forward to a five-and-a-half-year contract in January 2026.
Since joining the German side in January, Amaimouni has recorded two goals and three assists in 17 Bundesliga appearances. Known for his direct style and strong dribbling skills, the left-footed player constantly cuts inside, offering Morocco a highly dynamic option in attack.
Morocco enters the World Cup under heavy pressure. As the eighth-ranked team in the world, the highest-ranked nation in Africa, and semi-finalists in 2022, expectations are immense.
With veteran winger Sofiane Boufal missing from the roster, coach Mohamed Ouahbi has opted for youth in his attack.
Placed in a challenging Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, Morocco will need new options up front, with Amaimouni offering a new face for opposing defenders who are used to studying established European stars.
The team will prepare for the tournament with friendlies against Madagascar and Norway in early June. When Morocco opens its campaign against Brazil on June 13, the young winger could get his chance to complete his journey from amateur football to the world stage.
