El-Faouzi eyes Morocco while cementing his place at Schalke

Twenty‑four‑year‑old Soufiane El‑Faouzi, a recognised Star at FC Schalke 04, has confirmed he will wear the Morocco jersey rather than join the German national side, saying he has had no direct contact with the new DFB coach.

Key role at Schalke

After a "bärenstarke" promotion season, El‑Faouzi has entrenched himself in the royal‑blue midfield centre of Schalke under head coach Miron Muslic. The German Oberhaus has relied on his performances, and he is now regarded as one of the club’s absolute Leistungsträgern.

DFB interest and lack of contact

It was therefore little surprise that he became a Thema at the DFB, with officials even searching for his Namen in Jürgen Klopp’s XXL‑Kader, albeit without success. When asked whether the new national team boss had spoken to him, the midfielder answered plainly: "I directly not."

Morocco debut and World Cup miss

El‑Faouzi made his debut for the Atlas Lions in May, featuring in a 5‑0 test‑match victory over Burundi. He missed the final World Cup squad by a narrow margin, an experience he says left a lasting impression. "It was a test match. Nevertheless I liked it very much, I had a good connection with the coach," he recalled at a Sky microphone.

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His contract with Schalke was recently extended until 2030, underscoring the club’s belief in his long‑term value. The prospect of playing alongside Real’s Brahim Diaz or Bayern newcomer Ismael Saibari adds further allure to his North‑African ambitions.

Looking ahead, El‑Faouzi will feature in Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualification campaign, with matches against Gabon on 25 September and Lesotho on 29 September. He described the fixtures as the perfect stage to cement his place, adding, "It’s also about something. I’m keen to get playing time."

While the DFB side competes in the Nations League, the Schalke midfielder’s "Herzensentscheidung" signals a clear commitment to the Atlas Lions. He expressed enthusiasm for Morocco’s rising profile, noting, "The last two World Cups were very strong for Morocco. Accordingly, Morocco is slowly making progress, and I want to be part of it."

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El‑Faouzi’s decision sets a new chapter for both club and country, and his performances in the upcoming qualifiers will be closely watched as he seeks to solidify his international future.