Rising Atlas: Morocco's U-20 Dream to Conquer the World Cup
13 October 2025
A Strategic Rise: Morocco's Youth Program in Focus
Morocco's football renaissance is visible in the youth ranks as the Under-20s compete in the World Cup in Chile. The federation, led by Fouzi Lekjaa, has implemented a long-term plan across all age groups, combining centralized investment with a culture of development. This approach has attracted praise from coaches worldwide and is beginning to yield tangible results, with Moroccan teens drawing attention from European clubs and eyeing trophies rather than mere participation.
The Mohammed VI Football Academy is central to this pipeline, turning promising youngsters into European professionals and feeding the national teams at every level. The federation has provided unprecedented funding and expanded coaching resources, creating a generation that translates local talent into global opportunities.
The strategy is not only about the present; it is about sustainable growth. Coaches across the age spectrum are aligned with the plan, reinforcing the idea that success comes from a well-structured system rather than a single golden generation.
Historic Semi-Final Feat and the Emerging Core
The Under-20 squad has reached the semi-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, mirroring the senior team's Qatar 2022 run. Many of the players lining up for the U-20s are the same core figures who helped Morocco reach the late stages in 2022, with Colombia stepping in for Croatia in the final rounds.
This achievement is presented as the natural outcome of a long-term program: sustained funding, strong youth development centers, and players moving to Europe where they gain experience. The result is not a one-off flash in the pan but a recurring pattern of progress across age groups.
Fellow coaches and federation officials have cited the semi-final as a benchmark, and it has amplified expectations for 2026, when the World Cup is hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The shared belief is that the pipeline will continue to produce players capable of competing at the highest level.
Two Goals Ahead: World Cup Dreams and the Pipeline to the Seniors
Fouzi Lekjaa has repeatedly asserted that the national teams' objective is not participation but triumph. He has emphasized that the semi-final performance in Qatar should be the minimum and that winning the World Cup remains the guiding target. The commitment across the federation is endorsed by the senior team coach Walid Regragui and other age-group coaches, who stress alignment with the plan.
The youth teams, including the under-17 and under-23 sides, have achieved notable milestones, and the Mohammed VI Football Academy is described as a national project producing players who sign with major European clubs. This synergy strengthens the path from youth to senior success, and the national teams continue to strive for top-tier results on every stage.
Beyond the field, the program is lifting Morocco's world rankings: the futsal team sits among the top six in the world, while the senior national team sits around 11th, reflecting the depth of the talent pool. The academy's graduates include players who headline European clubs, and emerging talents such as Youssef Nsiri and Nayef Akhr highlight the new generation's potential.
A Football Nation in Strategic Transformation
The Mohammed VI Football Academy has evolved into a national strategic project, creating a pipeline that exports talent to Europe worth millions. The immediate targets are clear: win the World Cup at the youth level in Chile, clinch the youth world crown in Doha, and then stretch the success to the senior World Cup in the United States.
Football is now a matter of national pride, and the country is betting on its youngsters to deliver a sustained period of success for Atlas Lions teams across age groups.
Punchline 1: If goals were jokes, Morocco would headline every stadium—talk about a punchline that actually scores.
Punchline 2: Their transfer policy is so sharp that even the transfer market applauds with a standing ovation every transfer window.
