Fez — Morocco is taking part in the 2026 Bakery World Cup, taking place in Paris from Monday to Wednesday as part of the “Salon Sirha Bake & Snack – Europain,” marking a new milestone in the country’s strategy to elevate and internationalize its culinary professions.
Morocco’s participation reflects a broader national dynamic centered on professional excellence, skills development, and global visibility.
This approach aligns with the development vision promoted under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, which places youth training, innovation, and mastery of know-how at the heart of Morocco’s economic and cultural progress.
A global stage for a contemporary Moroccan identity
This year’s competition theme, “The inventions of your country,” invites each participating nation to express its cultural identity through innovation and technique.
For Morocco, the objective is to present a contemporary vision of Moroccan bakery that meets the highest international standards while asserting a refined and recognizable cultural signature.
The competition unfolds over two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Morocco scheduled to compete on Wednesday alongside several of the world’s leading baking nations.
Hosted within the Europain framework, the event is widely regarded as one of the most influential global gatherings for bakery and pastry professionals.
A national team built on excellence
Team Morocco is led by national coach Mustapha Ait Elaouam under the direction of Kamal Rahal Essoulami. The team brings together three specialists representing the competition’s core disciplines: Yassine Rassafi for bread, Aziz Ouzaime for viennoiserie, and Adil Kerroum for the artistic piece.
Together, the bakers embody a demanding professional culture rooted in precision, time management, and collective discipline. Their approach builds on Morocco’s strong performance at the 2024 edition, where the team secured a sixth-place finish worldwide, establishing the Kingdom as a serious contender on the international stage.
In 2026, Morocco returns with renewed confidence, officially qualified as Africa’s representative and determined to climb higher in the global rankings.
An African qualification achieved at home
Morocco’s presence at the world final follows its continental victory at the African Bakery Cup, held during the CREMAI trade show in Casablanca in September 2025. Organized under the auspices of the Rahal Group, the event confirmed Morocco’s leadership in structuring high-level professional competitions across Africa.
This qualification highlights the rising technical level of Moroccan professionals and reinforces Morocco’s role as a continental platform for culinary trades and vocational excellence.
Africa represented on the world stage
Ten countries are competing in the final across two days. The United States, Senegal, Japan, France, and Brazil take part tomorrow, followed by South Korea, Canada, Denmark, Chinese Taipei, and Morocco on Wednesday.
Africa is represented by only two nations, Morocco and Senegal, stressing both the competitiveness of the event and Morocco’s role in raising professional standards across the continent.
Morocco’s participation goes beyond competition. It signals a confident, structured, and forward-looking Moroccan identity, ready to assert its place among the world’s leading nations in the art and science of baking.
