Four years after Morocco’s historic run at the 2022 World Cup, Younes Belhanda says he still has not come to terms with being left out of the tournament squad by Walid Regragui.

The former Morocco international told Daniel Riolo that he barely watched the Atlas Lions during their campaign in Qatar because the disappointment was too difficult to overcome.

“I hardly watched the national team play. I didn’t watch the World Cup. It was painful... I wanted to play in that World Cup and then stop,” said Belhanda.

The 36-year-old, who now plays for Al-Sailiya in Qatar, also made clear that he continues to resent Regragui’s decision.

“To this day, I still hold it against him. Because I didn’t understand,” he said.

Belhanda went further, admitting that he did not share in his family’s enjoyment of Morocco’s achievement.

“When my family watched the matches, I didn’t care. I didn’t even watch them,” he added.

The former Montpellier player had been an important member of the Morocco squad during the 2010s, but his position had gradually weakened after Herve Renard’s departure, amid injuries and the emergence of a younger generation.

His hopes of making the World Cup were raised when he returned to the squad in September 2022, after a three-year absence, for two friendly matches ahead of the tournament.

At the time, Belhanda was enjoying an impressive campaign with Adana Demirspor in Turkey. He finished that season with 12 goals and seven assists, but at the age of 32 he was competing with younger midfielders for a place.

Regragui instead selected players including Azzedine Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss, who represented the changing profile of Morocco’s midfield. The decision proved successful as Morocco became the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final.

Belhanda’s comments have drawn strong criticism from Morocco supporters on social media. Many have accused him of being unable to celebrate his country’s progress and believe his remarks retrospectively support Regragui’s decision to omit him.

The former Morocco player also offered a controversial explanation for Brahim Diaz’s missed Panenka in Morocco’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal.

“I think they had an arrangement over the penalty. I think Brahim Diaz told him he was going to do that,” Belhanda said, suggesting there may have been an understanding between the Real Madrid player and Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

“The Senegalese reaction to the penalty – they were not surprised. You know the emotions of a final,” he added, before acknowledging: “There is no proof, it’s a feeling.”

The theory had already been discussed by a number of observers during the eventful final, although no concrete evidence has emerged.

Belhanda also said he remains confident in his ability, claiming he could still start for several Ligue 1 clubs, including Lille, Marseille and Lyon.