El Khannouss: FIFA World Cup was a strong boost for me before UEFA Champions League challenge

Bilal El Khannouss has stated that his participation with the Moroccan national team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 was a pivotal moment in his career, providing him with a strong moral and technical boost ahead of his new season with Stuttgart, where he is also preparing for his first experience in the UEFA Champions League.

Bilal El Khannouss played in all six matches for Morocco during the FIFA World Cup, helping the 'Atlas Lions' reach the quarter-finals. He considered the tournament an exceptional experience, despite feeling that the team was capable of going further.

Bilal El Khannouss stated in remarks to the Bundesliga website: "I really enjoyed participating. I think we had a great tournament, even though I felt we could have gone further."

A Stuttgart player explained that wearing the Moroccan national team jersey at the FIFA World Cup gave him a significant personal boost, adding: "It's a crazy feeling. When I give everything for my country on the pitch, I feel like I've taken a big step in my career."

Bilal El Khannouss believes that the impact of the World Cup experience will not stop at the tournament, but will accompany him throughout the new season, especially with his participation in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League.

He said in this regard: "I took this experience with me, and I hope to deliver good performances now in the Bundesliga."

His participation in the FIFA World Cup provided him with the opportunity to interact with some of the biggest stars in world football, which El Khannouss considers an important part of his development journey and gaining more experience.

The Moroccan player enters his new season with Stuttgart with greater confidence, as his move from Leicester to the German team has transitioned from a loan to a permanent transfer, making him a permanent member of the squad.

After a World Cup experience that left a clear mark on his career, Bilal El Khannouss is looking forward to a new challenge in the UEFA Champions League. He aims to build on what he achieved with the Moroccan national team and continue his development in his professional journey in Germany.