Morocco started strong and never looked back in the final of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. Facing an undefeated and heavily favored Argentine side, the North Africans seized control early and held on for a historic victory, purely with great defensive work.
Yassir Zabiri, who plays for Famalicão in Portugal’s top division, etched his name into football history with a sensational first half. His two goals not only made him the joint top scorer of the tournament but also delivered Morocco’s first-ever U-20 World Cup title.
Zabiri opened the scoring with a curling free kick from just outside the box in the 11th minute. He doubled the lead in the 28th, volleying home a cross to give Morocco an advantage they would never relinquish. Zabiri earned the Silver Ball for his performances, while Othmane Maamma—who plays for Watford in the English Championship—was named Player of the Tournament. Maamma, born in France, spent his early years in the Montpellier academy before the move to Watford.
Argentina dominated the match statistically, holding 75% possession, registering an xG of 1.23 to Morocco’s 0.77, and completing 90% of their passes. Yet despite 11 corners and 17 total shots, they managed only three on target. Morocco’s defensive resilience and Zabiri’s first-half brilliance were enough to seal the upset, even as Argentina controlled much of the play.
Morocco’s road to glory was anything but easy. After upset wins over Spain and Brazil in a difficult group, they fell 1-0 to Mexico and Gilberto Mora in the final group-stage match. From there, Morocco defeated South Korea and the United States before edging France on penalties in the semifinals—with their third-choice goalkeeper coming on as a clutch substitute.
Moroccan football is shining across all levels right now. The senior team sits 11th in the FIFA rankings and is bound for a seventh World Cup, following their remarkable fourth-place finish at Qatar 2022.
The Future of Moroccan Football Is Arriving
Morocco are unbeaten in their last 17 senior internationals and boast a deep pool of young talent that could soon feature on the world stage. Their next test comes at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where they will aim to win their first AFCON title since 1976, while hosting the tournament.
Manager Walid Regragui has already begun integrating younger players into the senior setup. Among them are 22-year-old defender Omar El Hilali (Espanyol), 21-year-old midfielder Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), and a promising group of U-23 forwards: Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Hamza Igamane (Lille), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal), and Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis).
Nineteen-year-old Everton defender Adam Aznou, along with 21-year-old midfielders Reda Belahyane (Lazio) and Bilal Nadir (Marseille), have also been called up over the past year.
It is clear that Morocco is not simply riding a golden generation—they’re building a sustainable footballing infrastructure designed to last. Their opponents in the final, Argentina, know the value of such depth better than anyone. Despite falling short in Chile, Argentina also enjoyed a superb tournament and have another wave of young talent ready to succeed the Lionel Messi era.
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