SANTIAGO, Chile: Morocco made history by winning their first-ever FIFA U-20 World Cup, defeating Argentina 2-0 in the final at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos.
The victory marks the first time an Arab nation has lifted the U-20 World Cup trophy, with 19-year-old forward Yassir Zabiri scoring both goals to secure a landmark triumph for African and Arab football.
The hero of the night was Yassir Zabiri, who plays for FC Famalicão in Portugal’s Primeira Liga. The 19-year-old forward delivered a clinical first-half brace, which proved enough to seal the win and crown Morocco as champions.
Argentina’s hopes were dashed early in the match when goalkeeper Lautaro Ibarra was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul outside the penalty box, leaving the South Americans with just 10 men on the pitch.
The early setback proved costly, as Morocco swiftly capitalized on their numerical advantage.
Zabiri’s first goal came in the 12th minute, when he expertly curled a free-kick past Argentina’s substitute goalkeeper, José Sánchez.
The Moroccan striker then doubled his tally just before the break with a composed finish, rifling the ball past Sánchez after a perfectly weighted through ball from the midfield.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Argentina struggled to break down Morocco’s disciplined defence and attacking flair.
The South Americans had hoped to add a record-extending seventh U-20 title to their collection, but they were unable to break the Moroccan defence.
Their task was further complicated by the absence of key players Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid and Claudio Echeverri of Bayer Leverkusen, both of whom missed the final through injury.
Morocco’s road to the final was nothing short of spectacular, with the North Africans overcoming tough competition in the knockout stages, including victories over South Korea, the United States, and France.
Their performance in the tournament highlighted a perfect blend of tactical discipline and attacking power, with Zabiri’s goalscoring prowess and the team’s overall cohesion making them a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
For Argentina, the defeat marked their first loss of the tournament and ended a remarkable run of dominance at the U-20 World Cup, where they had reached the final in six of the last seven editions.
However, they will now look ahead to next year’s senior World Cup in North America, where they will defend their title as the reigning champions.
Morocco’s victory is a milestone not only for the country but also for African and Arab football, signalling the emergence of a new footballing powerhouse.
The success of their U-20 team follows on the heels of impressive performances at both senior and youth levels, and the nation will now look to build on this success as they prepare for future international tournaments.
