Morocco FA hopes to appoint Iniesta as director, Xavi as coach – Marca

Morocco are reportedly considering former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández as a future national team manager as part of their long-term preparations for the 2030 World Cup.

According to reports, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation is planning major structural changes after the national team’s impressive fourth-place finish at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and their run to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

As part of the project, Morocco are in discussions with former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andrés Iniesta to take up the role of sporting director. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing, with no agreement reached yet. If the deal is completed, Iniesta would help lead an ambitious new plan for the Atlas Lions.

The federation has already begun restructuring ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, parting ways with coach Walid Regragui and appointing Mohamed Ouahbi as head coach.

Meanwhile, former assistant coach at Paris Saint-Germain, AS Roma, and Tottenham Hotspur, João Sacramento, has also joined the Moroccan coaching setup.

Looking further ahead, Morocco see Xavi as a potential candidate to take over the national team after the 2026 World Cup. The former FC Barcelona manager has been out of coaching since leaving the club two years ago and is believed to be waiting for the right opportunity to return to the touchline.

Reports suggest Morocco’s proposal could be attractive to Xavi, particularly if Iniesta takes on the technical director role, though the federation is expected to finalise negotiations with Iniesta before making any move for a new head coach.