Three years After the historic achievement made by Morocco’s Atlas Lions in Qatar’s World Cup, the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals, the Atlas Lion Cubs were crowned the U20 world champions in Chile.
They are the first Arab team to reach the top of the world, confirming the status of Morocco as the best football nation in Africa and also the rising country in World Football.
Thanks to their skills and determination, they defeated in Santiago the legendary Argentina, seven-time world champion, scoring two goals in the first half by Yassir Zabiri, best goal-scorer of the tournament with 5 goals.
In Chile, the Young Atlas Cubs wrote a golden page in Morocco’s football history. Their victory is not fortuitous. It is the culmination of a long and laborious journey. It is also the result of a well-thought-out project crafted by King Mohammed VI for the empowerment of young talents.
They set the tone in the first round of the tournament. They defeated global powerhouses Brazil (2-1), Spain (2-0) and south Korea (2-1) to top Group C and advance to the last eight for the first time in 20 years.
In the quarter-final, Morocco ousted the United States after a 3-1 victory. They defeated France 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time to reach the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025.
In the final against Argentina, the world champions, Moroccans did not chase prestige. They set their eyes on the title. They played a compact block game with clean ball exits, verticality tactics and clinical efficiency in the tight spaces opened up by the opponent.
In Santiago, the young Atlas lions proved to the world and their challengers that they are not only talented, but very competitive. Moroccan player Yassir Zabiri dazzled with his performance as his team stunned Argentina in a thrilling final 2-0 win, becoming the second African team to win the World Cup after Ghana in 2009.
Before the final game, many viewed Argentina as favorites. They say the Albiceleste had won a record six titles and only lost one decider, while Morocco were appearing in the fixture for the first time. Moreover, Argentina had won all six of their outings, scoring 15 goals and conceding only two, while the Atlas Cubs had lost to Mexico and only got past France on penalties.
The script nevertheless began unravelling early at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago. Zabiri went racing through on goal, dinked the ball over Santino Barbi and was clattered down by the Argentina goalkeeper. Morocco wanted a red card and a penalty, but following a VAR review, a yellow and a free-kick were given. The Atlas Cubs’ disappointment was short-lived, however, with Zabiri majestically curling the set-piece into the top corner.
Diego Placente’s team responded with an attack, but Ouahbi’s players struck back on the counter to double the advantage. Ismael Baouf recovered possession admirably and fed Othmane Maamma, whose cross was volleyed home emphatically by Zabiri.
The final whistle sparked wild celebrations from the Moroccan players. In Morocco, a huge clamor rose throughout the country. From Tangiers to Laayoune, passing through Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Oujda, Kenitra Fez…, a green and red crowd surged through the streets at 2 am. People shouted and sang; others cried with joy and hugged each other in a deafening din of car horns. It is the first time that Morocco, a land of football, has ever a World Cup.
But Behind this historic achievement stands the Mohammed VI Football Academy which has produced several international stars, including Youssef En-Nesyri, Nayef Aguerd, and Azzedine Ounahi.
Opened in 2009 near Rabat, the Academy features state-of-the-art facilities, a focus on player development both on and off the pitch, and is part of a larger national program to improve Moroccan football.
It has become the breeding ground of football stars including many players of the U20 team. The Academy is a 35-hectare complex with 11 pitches, player housing for 500, and advanced medical and recovery facilities.
Its comprehensive approach includes high-level training, education, and preparation for professional careers. The academy is a cornerstone of a national initiative that includes 13 regional centers and 145 pitches across the country.
It has become an inspirational success-story, propelling Morocco to the top of world football scene. The U20 team as those of U-17 and the Olympic team have reaped the fruits of years of labor, dedication and investment.
Above all, the victory of the Atlas Cubs in Chile has shown what it means to “win together”: no misplaced egos, decisive substitutes and key smart and focused players. The coaching staff, for its part, showed skills: calibrated rotation, load management, adaptations from opponent to opponent. Against Mexico, it was necessary to control transitions; against France, to show mental resilience and effective time management. In the final, they remained calm and focused. The tactics paid-off.
After winning the U-20 World Cup, Morocco and Atlas Cubs will reap the dividends of their efforts and victory. Big football clubs around the world, especially those in Europe, have already set eyes on signing best Moroccan stars. On the international scene, the success of the Moroccan football experience and model will give the Kingdom more global credit, attracting more partners, tournaments, and technical exchanges.
Furthermore, the victory of the U20 team sends young Moroccans a clear message saying that success is possible and Moroccan coaches can lead to global top.
Let’s not forget that the historic achievement of the Atlas Lion Cubs in Chile is the culmination of years of perseverance. It is just the beginning for more titles.
The culmination of a generation that has learned to win. The beginning for a Moroccan project, spearheaded by the Mohammed VI Academy, seeking to produce more again & more world-class footballers, elite-players capable of breaking the world glass-ceiling, proving that Nothing is Impossible for Moroccans!
