Morocco's U17 Team Faces Tough Competition in World Cup Draw
On May 21, 2026, the Moroccan U17 national team learned about its opponents for the upcoming U17 World Cup, set to take place in Qatar from November 19 to December 13. The draw, conducted at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, placed the Lions of the Atlas in Group H, where they will compete against formidable teams including Spain, Fiji, and China during the group stage of this prestigious tournament.
The Moroccan U17 team secured their spot in the World Cup by reaching the quarter-finals of the ongoing U17 African Cup of Nations, which is being held in Morocco from May 13 to June 3. This qualification marks a significant achievement for the team, especially following their performance in the previous World Cup edition held in Qatar in 2025, where they reached the quarter-finals before narrowly losing to Brazil with a score of 2-1.
The journey of the Moroccan U17 squad was not without its challenges. They started the tournament with two disappointing losses against Japan (0-2) and Portugal (0-6). However, the team showcased its resilience by delivering a historic victory against New Caledonia, winning 16-0, which allowed them to advance to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams. In the round of 16, they eliminated the United States after a dramatic penalty shootout, winning 4-3 following a 1-1 draw, and then overcame Mali with a close 3-2 victory in the quarter-finals.
As reported by sport.le360.ma.
