USA 1-3 Morocco Highlights, FIFA U20 World Cup 2025: Zabiri Stars As Atlas Cubs Book Semi-Final Spot

Hello and welcome to the start of our live blog for the USA U20 vs Morocco U20 match. The action in Chile is set to kick off at 1:30 AM IST, so stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.

Starting XI: Adam Beaudry (gk); Nolan Norris, Joshua Wynder, Ethan Kohler, Frankie Westfield; Niko Tsakiris, Brooklyn Raines, Benjamin Cremaschi (c); Cole Campbell, Zavier Gozo, Matthew Corcoran

Bench: Gavin Beavers (gk), Duran Ferree (gk), Reed Baker-Whiting, Luca Bombino, Luke Brennan, Noah Cobb, Taha Habroune, Peyton Miller, Pedro Soma, Marcos Zambrano

Starting XI: Yanis Benchaouch (gk); Fouad Zahouani, Ismail Bakhty, Ismael Baouf, Ali Maamar; Yassine Khalifi, Naim Byar; Gessime Yassine, Saad El Haddad, Othmane Maamma (c); Yassir Zabiri

Bench: Ibrahim Gomis (gk), Hakim Mesbahi (gk), Ilias Boumassaoudi, Younel El Bahraoui, Hossam Essadak, Mohammed Hamony, Mahsoub Ilyass, Mohammed Kebdani, Taha Majni, Anas Tajaouart

USA U20:

• 🟢 9-1 vs New Caledonia

• 🟢 3-0 vs France

• 🔴 2-1 vs South Africa

• 🟢 3-0 vs Italy

Morocco U20:

• 🟢 2-0 vs Spain

• 🟢 2-1 vs Brazil

• 🔴 1-0 vs Mexico

• 🟢 2-1 vs South Korea

• India: FIFA+

• USA: fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Foxsports.com, FOX Sports App, FOX One, Fox Sports 2, Fox Soccer Plus, UNIVERSO NOW, UNIVERSO

• Morocco: SNRT Live, beIN Sports, Arryadia TNT

The match will be live-streamed globally on the FIFA+ app and website. You can also follow the USA vs Morocco live scores on Outlook India for free.

Morocco and USA's U20 sides met twice in two international friendlies in September 2025:

• Morocco U20 0-0 USA U20 (September 7)

• USA U20 4-1 Morocco U20 (September 5)

In yesterday's kick-offs, Colombia stunned Spain 3-2 to move to the semi-finals, as did Argentina, who won 2-0 against Mexico. After Morocco's clash against USA, Norway will take on France at 4:30 AM IST tonight, which will decide all four semi-finalists for the next round, which kick off on October 15.

The referee for tonight's fixture is Kevin Ortega, and he blows his whistle to signal the start of the third quarter-final match of the FIFA U20 World Cup 2025. On paper, USA are the favourites, with Inter Miami's Benjamin Cremaschi in fine form. However, the Moroccan side have beaten big names, including Spain and Brazil. Can they add USA to that list? Stay tuned!

USA have enjoyed the lion's share of the ball in the opening stages, but the biggest threat so far has come from Morocco down the flanks. Morocco skipper Maamma, wearing the number 7 on his back, channeled his inner Ronaldo to dribble past a host of bodies before cutting it back across the face of goal. Unfortunately, none of his teammates can get at the end of it.

Morocco are happy to sit back and play without the ball, with USA having more than 75% of the ball. However, they must be careful against giving too much respect to their opponents, as Raines' cross-turned-shot was almost deflected goalwards, but Benchaouch did well to parry it away.

Despite the intensity being shown by the players, the tempo of the match is yet to pick up. USA are pushing hard to get some place to work with in the Moroccan half, while the Atlas Cubs are happy to soak in the pressure and hit their opponents on the counter. In the opening 25 minutes, neither side have been able to execute their tactics to perfection.

USA almost got a freak lead, as Gozo's cross from the left flank, aimed for Campbell, spun around and hit to top of the crossbar. Benchaouch did not think that his goal was in danger and did not move, so he was glad to see the ball go out. It's really windy out here in Chile, and the players have to be mindful of that.

Out of absolutely nowhere, Morocco go ahead. A terrific cross-field ball from El Haddad found Maamma in the box. The winger saw his first attempt blocked but then showed awareness to lob it across for Zabiri to roll it into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the tournament.

The corner count just keeps on racking up for the USA - seven so far - but the American players are yet to put Benchaouch under any kind of pressure. Meanwhile, as a result of the review on Morocco's opener, the fourth official has indicated a minimum of four minutes to be added on at the end of the first half.

A ball is floated into the Moroccan box, and Norris, under some pressure from Maamar, takes a tumble. The Peruvian referee immediately blows his whistle to point towards the spot, and shows a yellow card to the Moroccan left back.

Morocco review the decision, and after quiet a number of replays, the referee stands by his decision. Massive setback for the Atlas Cubs, just before the break.

It's Borussia Dortmund youngster Cole Campbell who steps up to take the spot kick. It's not the best penalty you'll see, and Benchaouch almost got his left hand on it, but the ball crept under and into the back of the net. USMNT are level in what can be the final play of the first half.

After eight minutes of added time, the referee blows the half-time whistle. Morocco took the lead after some excellent play by Othmane Maamma, but USA drew level right before half-time after a soft penalty call by the refereee, which was just about slotted in by Campbell. It's one-all at the break, with a big second half coming.

Both sets of players are out on the pitch in sunny day in Chile. The referee blows his whistle, and the second half is underway. It's all level in this quarter-final match, which means that both sides have it all to play for in the next 45 minutes plus stoppage time, and, if needed, penalties.

The second half has begun similarly like the first, with Morocco sitting deep and absorbing pressure from the USMNT forwards, trying to hit on the counter when they can. It has worked well for the Atlas Cubs, which explains why manager Mohamed Ouahbi did not make a change.

However, they need to be careful against the American attacks, with Cremaschi almost tearing their defence apart if not for a vital touch by the defender.

The Moroccan wide men are troubling USMNT defenders. A long throw from Maamar almost fell for Zabiri in the box, but the defenders cleared, and USA counter immediately, but it comes to nothing. Despite the lack of quality in the final third, both sides are giving it their all out on the pitch.

Moments after USA made a change, replacing Gozo with Brennan, Morocco strike in the most stunning of fashions. A long throw from the left flank dropped into the heap of bodies in the box.

The USMNT players looked dumfounded as the ball somehow found itself in the back of the net, and Zabiri wheels away in celebration. Mitrovic immediately reviews the decision.

It's a rather short review at the end, and the goal stands. Unfortunately for Zabiri, the goal will go down as an own goal for Joshua Wynders - his second of the tournament. Morocco wouldn't mind much as they find themselves in lead with 20 minutes left to play.

With time running out, USA make a double change. Corcoran comes off and is replaced by former Ecuador youth international Marcos Zambrano. Also coming on is Taha Habroune - who is of Moroccan descent - replacing Taskiris.

The USMNT have had more of the ball - almost three-fourths of it - but can they turn their dominance into goals and get the equaliser?

Other than a blocked effort from Habroune and a long-range effort from Wynder, USA are yet to really test Benchaouch. They have five minutes and stoppage time to do so, or their hopes of making a first-ever U20 World Cup semi-final will end today.

One of the best chances of the game falls to Luke Brennan. On the half-volley, the forward had the entire goal to aim for but somehow blasted his shot over the target. However, USA's wastefulness is Morocco's gain.

A long ball from their own half bounces awkwardly for the defender, and Beaudry makes a complete hash of it while coming out of his goal. Boumassaoudi did exceptionally well to hold on to the ball before cutting it back across for Gessime Yassine to knock it into the back of the net.

A short review from Morocco sees Wynder get a yellow card for kick on the face of Baouf while challenging for the ball. Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates a minimum of six minutes to be added on at the end of regulation time. USA need to score twice in that time to force penalties.

The referee blows his whistle to bring the quarter-final to an end. It's utter joy in the faces of the Moroccan players, who book their places in the U20 World Cup for the second time in their history, and for the first time since 1989. Yassir Zabiri was the star of the show, scoring the first goal and then forcing the second.

USA will be disappointed with the manner of their exit, having dominated the ball throughout the match, but a lack of incisive finishing has hurt them big time today. Their quarter-final exit streak continues this year as well.