Morocco have captured the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time, defeating record six-time champions Argentina 2–0 in Sunday’s final at Santiago’s Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos. 

Striker Yassir Zabiri settled the contest with a first-half brace, striking from a 12th-minute free-kick and adding a close-range finish 17 minutes later. The triumph makes Morocco the first Arab nation to win the tournament. 

The Atlas Cubs’ route to the title was authoritative. They eliminated South Korea in the round of 16, the United States in the quarter-finals and France in the semi-finals before toppling Argentina in the decider. 

FIFA’s match report confirms Morocco’s penalty shoot-out victory over France in the last four. 

Zabiri, who plays for Portugal’s FC Famalicão, was Morocco’s standout performer throughout the tournament; reputable databases list his surname as Zabiri and his club as Famalicão. 

Argentina arrived unbeaten but were without two of their brightest prospects: Claudio Echeverri, on loan at Bayer Leverkusen from Manchester City, and Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid, with multiple reports indicating their clubs did not release them for the youth competition. 

Morocco are the first African champions at this level since Ghana lifted the trophy in 2009, underlining the continent’s growing depth in youth football. 

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