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Lamine Yamal Explains Choosing Spain Over Morocco in CBS Interview

He says European exposure offered the clearest path to the highest level.

Overview

  • In a CBS/60 Minutes interview published Monday, the Barcelona teenager said he seriously weighed Morocco before committing to Spain.
  • He said Morocco’s 2022 World Cup semifinal run fed the dream of playing for the Atlas Lions, yet he ultimately had no doubt about selecting La Roja.
  • He cited European football’s greater visibility and proximity to elite international competition as the decisive reasons for his choice.
  • Born in Spain to a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother, he debuted for Spain at 16 in 2023 and went on to win Euro 2024.
  • He expressed enduring affection for Morocco and stated his goal to play the 2026 World Cup with a real chance to win it.