The Moroccan victory came as a surprise // Photo: onefootball.com
Both goals in the deciding game were scored by Morocco’s youth national team striker Yassir Zabiri – in the 12th and 29th minutes. The North African team won the Under-20 World Championship trophy for the first time.
The bronze medals were won by the Colombian national team (U-20), which defeated the French 1:0 in the match for third place. Forward Oscar Perea scored the only goal in the second minute of the match. Colombia’s youth team has previously won bronze at the tournament – in 2003. France won the U-20 World Championship in 2013. The Uruguayan team, which won the World Youth Championship in 2023, did not qualify for the tournament.
Morocco midfielder Othman Maammou, his teammate Yassir Zabiri and Argentina midfielder Milton Delgado were recognized as the best players of the championship.
Argentina has won the tournament a record six times (1979, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007). Brazil’s youth team has won the trophy five times (1983, 1985, 1993, 2003, 2011). Players from Yugoslavia/Serbia (1987, 2015) and Portugal (1989, 1991) have won the trophy twice each.
The first world champion in 1977 in Tunisia was the USSR youth national team, which defeated Mexico on penalties.
The Youth World Cup in 2027 will be hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
