Morocco has achieved a historic milestone in global football, becoming the first Arab nation and only the second African country, after Ghana in 2009, to lift the Under-20 World Cup trophy. The Atlas Cubs secured their triumph with a decisive 2-0 victory over record six-time champions Argentina in the final held in Santiago, Chile. This monumental win is seen by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) as a validation of a decade-long vision and substantial investment in developing the sport across the kingdom.

The final match saw striker Yassir Zabiri, currently with Portuguese top-flight side Famalicao, net both goals against Argentina. His first was a fine curling free-kick in the 12th minute, followed by a volley from Othmane Maamma's cross in the 29th minute. Maamma, who joined Watford from Montpellier in July and has earned the moniker 'Moroccan Cristiano Ronaldo,' was awarded the prestigious Golden Ball for the tournament's best player, while Zabiri claimed the Silver Ball as joint-top scorer with five goals.

King Mohammed VI, whose crucial financial backing has spearheaded the nation's football development, sent a message of immense joy and deep pride, saluting the Atlas Cubs for their heroic journey. He commended their high level of self-confidence, unwavering belief, spirit of cohesion, and superb professional performance throughout the World Cup. The King emphasized that the team honorably represented their country, its youth, and the African continent, bringing happiness to football enthusiasts and the entire Moroccan people. This victory was met with widespread national celebrations, with football pundit Jalal Bounouar describing a "sleepless night" as people poured into the streets across cities and villages, waving flags and honking cars, celebrating their first-ever world championship.

Morocco's journey to the final was marked by a strong performance, qualifying as runners-up at this year's U20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in only their fourth appearance at the U20 World Cup since 2005. They started by beating Spain and Brazil in the group stage, topping their group despite a 1-0 defeat to Mexico. In the knockout rounds, they overcame South Korea 2-1 in the last 16, defeated the United States 3-1 in the quarter-finals, and progressed to the final by beating France 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time.

The rise of Moroccan football is largely attributed to a long-term project initiated by King Mohammed VI and the FRMF. The King first articulated his vision to leverage football for social and economic development in 2008. This led to the establishment of the Mohammed VI Football Academy in 2009 and a state-of-the-art $65 million (£48.5 million) training facility near Rabat in 2019, both bearing his name. Notably, five players from the U20 World Cup final starting lineup are products of this academy. The academy has also produced talents like Marseille's Nayef Aguerd, Girona's Azzedine Ounahi, and Fenerbahce's Youssef En-Nesyri, who were integral to the Atlas Lions' historic semi-final run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Fathi Jamal, FRMF's director of technical development, lauded the academy's remarkable work with young players.

Beyond the academy, the FRMF has invested significantly in infrastructure, setting up regional training centers, developing 7,000 amateur pitches, and modernizing technical staff with a focus on training local coaches. Vast sums, reportedly totaling $5 billion (£3.7 billion), have also been allocated for redeveloping and building stadiums in preparation for hosting the 2025 Afcon and co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The FRMF spokesperson stated that while there's more work to do, the country is moving in a "good direction" with ambitious plans for future tournaments.

Looking ahead, Morocco aims to be a "strong contender" at all levels of global football, with aspirations extending to the female game, futsal, and beach soccer. The Atlas Lionesses have been runners-up in the last two Women's Africa Cup of Nations, and Morocco is currently staging, and will host the next four editions of, the Under-17 Women's World Cup until 2029. Members of the victorious U20 squad are being encouraged to aim for places in the men's senior side for the 2030 World Cup. Football pundit Jalal Bounouar believes players like Maamma, Zabiri, and centre-back Ismail Baouf are already ready for inclusion in Walid Regragui's squad for the upcoming Afcon, where pressure will be high to end the nation's 50-year wait for a continental title. This period is hailed as Moroccan football's "golden era."

However, this intense investment in football has not been without scrutiny. Recent Gen Z protests have voiced anger over the substantial sums spent on the sport, with calls for funds to be redirected towards critical sectors such as education, healthcare, housing, transport, and job creation. In response, ahead of the U20 World Cup final, the royal palace released a statement promising to allocate 140 billion dirhams ($15 billion, £11.2 billion) in the 2026 budget to health and education, representing a 16% increase from the previous year. Despite this, protests by Gen Z continue, demanding further reforms in education and healthcare and stronger action against corruption.