El-Faouzi's World Cup Journey Ends Before It Begins
Soufiane El-Faouzi, a midfielder for FC Schalke 04, has been omitted from the final World Cup roster of Morocco, as announced by national coach Mohamed Ouahbi. Despite being included in the preliminary squad and participating in a five-day training camp in Salé, Morocco, El-Faouzi's hopes of shining on the international stage have been dashed. Morocco will be competing in Group C of the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, where they are set to face Brazil on June 14, Scotland on June 20, and Haiti on June 25.
Impressive Season Yet Unrewarded
El-Faouzi, who had hoped to delay his vacation following Schalke's championship win in order to represent his country, has had an undeniably intense season. The 23-year-old not only participated in all 34 league matches but also started each one, finishing 31 games on the pitch at the final whistle. His endurance was further demonstrated in the DFB-Pokal matches, where he played for 120 and 90 minutes respectively. Remarkably, El-Faouzi emerged as the most active player in the 2. Bundesliga, covering a staggering 427 kilometers throughout the season, significantly ahead of his nearest competitors.
Given his stellar performances, El-Faouzi has become a prime candidate for transfer, as Schalke seeks to generate surplus revenue following their promotion to the Bundesliga. Having joined the club from Alemannia Aachen for a mere €200,000 in the summer of 2025, his impressive contributions on the field could potentially yield a significant profit for the club if the right offer comes along.
As El-Faouzi prepares for a well-deserved vacation, the focus for FC Schalke 04 shifts towards the World Cup, where only two players—Edin Dzeko and Nikola Katic—have confirmed their places in Bosnia-Herzegovina's final squad. Meanwhile, Dylan Leonard (Australia) and Adil Aouchiche (Algeria) still hold hope for their respective national teams, having been selected for the preliminary rosters. All final nominations must be submitted by June 1, marking a crucial date for teams worldwide.
As reported by ruhr24.de.
