Introduction
In a dramatic and historic climax to the 2025 FIFA U‑20 World Cup, the Morocco U20 stunned six-time champions Argentina U20 with a 2-0 victory to claim their first-ever global youth crown. The final in Santiago saw Morocco take control early and never relinquish their grip, while Argentina’s quest to renew their U-20 glories ended in disappointment despite high expectations.
Match Overview
At the majestic Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago on 19 October 2025, Argentina U20 faced Morocco U20 in the final of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Argentina arrived with a perfect record in the tournament and a legacy of six U-20 titles; Morocco were debutants in the final, having pushed aside major hurdles to reach this moment.
The scoring opened in the 12th minute when Moroccan forward Yassir Zabiri curled a free-kick into the net, before doubling his tally in the 29th minute with a close-range finish. Argentina failed to respond, and Morocco held firm to lift the trophy.
Key Moments
- 12′ — Goal for Morocco: Yassir Zabiri struck from a free-kick, catching Argentina’s wall off guard and giving Morocco the early lead.
- 29′ — Second goal for Morocco: A swift Moroccan counter-attack ended with Zabiri tapping home to make it 2-0, putting serious pressure on Argentina.
- Halftime: Morocco went into the break with a commanding advantage; Argentina looked uncharacteristically subdued.
- Second half: Argentina pressed for a route back into the game but were repeatedly thwarted by a disciplined Moroccan defence and strong midfield organisation. Morocco managed the game professionally, maintaining structure and denying Argentina meaningful chances.
- Full-Time: Morocco held on to claim the win 2-0, marking a landmark achievement for their youth programme.
Player Performances
- Yassir Zabiri (Morocco U20): Earned the Man of the Match honours with both goals and proved the difference-maker on the big stage. His composure and finishing under pressure were exemplary.
- Morocco Defensive Unit: The back-line and midfield shield operated superbly — they absorbed Argentine pressure when required and launched efficient transitions.
- Argentina’s Key Talent: Despite minutes of dominance earlier in the tournament, Argentina lacked their usual cutting edge in the final. Young talents like Gianluca Prestianni and others showed promise but couldn’t break through Morocco’s setup.
- Argentina Goalkeeper / Defence: With no goals scored, the defence and goalkeeper will reflect on missed opportunities and the need for sharper concentration at big moments.
Tactical Breakdown
Argentina U20
Coach Diego Placente set up his side in a 5-4-1 formation, aiming for solidity and gradual build-up.
- Shape: Five defenders provided cover; the midfield quartet were tasked with controlling tempo; the lone forward awaited service.
- Strategy: Argentina targeted dominance in possession and hoped to draw Morocco out before striking.
- Adjustment: After falling behind, Placente switched to a more aggressive stance, introducing extra attacking midfielders and pushing full-backs higher — but Morocco’s compact shape blunted the threat.
Morocco U20
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi favoured a 4-2-3-1 system, offering balance between defence and attack.
- Shape & strategy: Two holding midfielders anchored the defence, enabling the wingers and attacking midfielders to exploit space in transition.
- Strengths: Morocco pressed intelligently, remained compact, and capitalised with swift counter attacks. The set-piece leading to the first goal underlined their tactical preparedness.
- Game management: After the second goal, Morocco shifted to more conservative posture — holding shape, controlling possession in safe areas, and denying Argentina clear openings.
Fan Reactions & Atmosphere
The stadium was buzzing from the first whistle, with a vibrant atmosphere befitting a final of this magnitude. Fans from both nations filled the stands, waving flags, singing, and reacting passionately to each key moment. Morocco supporters, especially, erupted when Zabiri scored the second goal. The result triggered scenes of jubilation among Moroccan fans on site and across the world — a historic moment for North African and Arab football. On the Argentine side, the mood was one of stunned silence and frustration as the plan unravelled. Social-media chatter immediately began praising Morocco’s breakthrough while questioning Argentina’s lack of response under pressure.
What This Means
For Morocco U20, this triumph is seismic: their first -20 World Cup title, the first such major trophy for an Arab nation in this age-group, and a major boost for the nation’s youth development system.
For Argentina U20, the loss ends their quest to add a seventh U-20 crown and raises questions about their transition of talent and tactical flexibility in decisive games.
The tournament overall underlines new dynamics in youth football: surprise packages, tactical maturity, and the breaking of historical dominance. Looking ahead, Morocco’s players will draw confidence from this win — many will attract attention from clubs abroad and may graduate quickly to senior football.