Morocco has secured a place in the 2025 U-20 World Cup final after a dramatic 1-1 draw followed by a nail-biting penalty shootout victory against France in the semi-final played on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Valparaíso, Chile.
The semi-final between the young Atlas Lions and the French side (Bleuets) was tightly contested. Morocco initially took the lead when Yassir Zabiri successfully converted a penalty, which was awarded after a VAR review confirmed a foul in the French box. France managed to equalize in the second half through Lucas Michal. Despite intense pressure and multiple chances in both regulation and extra time, the score remained deadlocked at 1-1.
The match was decided by penalties, with Morocco clinching the win 5-4. Moroccan goalkeeper Abdelhakim Mesbahi was substituted in specifically for the shootout and proved decisive, watching two French attempts miss the target as the Moroccan penalty takers maintained a perfect record.
Morocco has enjoyed a truly remarkable run through the U-20 World Cup. In the group stage, they demonstrated their quality by defeating giants Spain and Brazil.
Their knockout journey included eliminating South Korea in the round of 16 and achieving a major confidence-boosting victory over the United States in the quarterfinals.
This phenomenal performance marks a significant milestone in the history of Moroccan football and underscores the impressive progress of African youth football on the international stage.
The U-20 World Cup final will now pit Morocco against Argentina this Sunday, October 19, at the legendary Estadio Nacional in Santiago.
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