2025 U-20 FIFA World Cup: Morocco to battle Argentina for supremacy on Monday

Morocco’s Under-20 team has booked a historic place in the final of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where they will face record champions Argentina on Monday, October 20, at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos.

The Atlas Cubs reached the final after edging France 5-4 on penalties, following a tense 1-1 draw in their semi-final clash at Estadio Valparaíso on Wednesday night.

The result makes Morocco only the third African nation to reach the U-20 World Cup final, joining Ghana and Nigeria in the continent’s football history books.

This year’s tournament featured four African representatives: Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and reigning AFCON champions South Africa.

Of the quartet, Morocco have now gone the farthest, with a chance to become just the second African team to lift the trophy. Ghana remains the only African side to have done so, winning the title in 2009.

African teams have come close before, Nigeria finished as runners-up twice, losing to Portugal in 1989 and to Argentina in 2005.

Standing between Morocco and glory are six-time champions Argentina, the most successful nation in the tournament’s history.

The South Americans secured their place in the final with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Colombia, who had earlier eliminated South Africa’s Amajita in the Round of 16.

The final is set for 01:00 on Monday, with Morocco aiming to write a new chapter in African football history.