Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Historic Feat for Morocco’s U20s as They Reach the World Cup Final

A new milestone has been achieved by the Moroccan national team as the national U20 team reached the FIFA U20 World Cup final for the first time ever, defeating France 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Chile.

This triumph adds to Morocco’s remarkable recent achievements — from the senior team’s historic run to the Qatar 2022 World Cup semifinals, where they lost to France, to the Olympic team’s bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games. Now, the U20s have gone even further than their predecessors from the 2005 edition in the Netherlands, when Morocco finished fourth.

The “Atlas Cubs” will aim to lift the trophy on Sunday against Argentina, who defeated Colombia 1-0 in the other semifinal. This marks only the second time an Arab nation has reached the U20 World Cup final — after Qatar’s 1981 appearance, when they lost 4-0 to West Germany in Australia.

Morocco also became just the second African team ever to reach the final, following Ghana — champions in 2009 after beating Brazil on penalties. Ghana also finished runners-up in 1993 (vs. Brazil, 1-2) and 2001 (vs. Argentina, 0-3), while Nigeria lost two finals, in 1989 (vs. Portugal, 0-2) and 2005 (vs. Argentina, 1-2). Argentina hold the record with six titles, ahead of Brazil’s five.

Match Highlights

At the Elias Figueroa Brander Stadium in central Chile, in front of around 11,000 fans, Morocco took the lead in the 32nd minute. Yasser El Zbeiri’s penalty kick hit the left post, rebounded off French goalkeeper Lisandro Olmeta’s back, and rolled into the net — an own goal that marked Morocco’s third of the tournament, setting a record for the most own goals scored by one team in a single U20 World Cup.

France equalized in the second half through Lucas Michel, who struck from close range in the 59th minute.

Morocco regained control late in the match and came close to scoring again, notably through a fierce strike by star forward Othman Maama, which Olmeta brilliantly saved in the 90th minute.

During extra time, French substitute Raby Nzingoula — who had come on in the 87th minute — was sent off after receiving a second yellow card (107’). The match went to penalties, where Morocco triumphed 5-4 after goalkeeper Abdelhakim Msabahi saved the sixth French spot kick from Djilyan Ngissan.

Notably, Elyaz Zidane — the youngest son of French legend Zinedine Zidane — successfully converted France’s third penalty.