Preview: U-17 MNT Faces Morocco in Round of 32 Matchup On Friday

U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team

2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup – Round of 32

Friday, November 14 | Aspire Zone; Al Rayyan, Qatar

10:45 a.m. ET on Universo, Peacock; 4:30 p.m. ET on FS2 (tape delayed)

ALL OR NOTHING

With a spark of brilliance, the USA defeated Czechia 1-0 with a 78th minute game winner by substitute Mathis Albert, to cement its spot in the Round of 32 as the fourth-best ranked team in the group stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. With the expanded 48-team format, FIFA incorporated a brand-new ranking system in this World Cup to determine the Knockout Round fixtures, giving the USA a win-or-go home match against Morocco on Friday, Nov. 14 (10:45 a.m. ET; Universo, Peacock). Holding a perfect 3W-0L-0D record from the group stage, a victory for Gonzalo Segares’ side on Friday would mark the USA’s third-ever knockout stage win at the competition, having previously earned wins in 1999 and 2017.

Fans can follow all of the action from Qatar on ussoccer.com as well as @USYNT on X and Instagram and U.S. Soccer’s Facebook page.

2025 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP – USA GROUP I SCHEDULE/RESULTS

2025 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP – GROUP I STANDINGS/RESULTS

November 5

Tajikistan 1, Czechia 6

USA 1, Burkina Faso 0

November 8

Czechia 1, Burkina Faso 2

USA 2, Tajikistan 1

November 11

Czechia 0, USA 1

Burkina Faso 2, Tajikistan 0

2025 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; HOMETOWN)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jack Kortkamp (Sporting Kansas City; Olathe, Kan.), William Lodmell (Sporting Lisbon/POR; Lisbon, Portugal), Aidan Stokes (New York Red Bulls; Totowa, N.J.)

DEFENDERS (6): Christopher Cupps (Chicago Fire; Chicago, Ill.), Jordan Griffin (Philadelphia Union; West Chester, Pa.), Pedro Guimaraes (Orange County SC; Aliso Viejo, Calif.), Ramiz Hamouda (Birmingham Legion; Lincoln, Neb.), Enrique Martinez (LA Galaxy; Compton, Calif.), Gio Villa (Real Salt Lake; Chicago, Ill.)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Maximo Carrizo (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Luca Moisa (Real Salt Lake; Las Vegas, Nev.), Cooper Sanchez (Atlanta United; Holly Springs, Ga.), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Jude Terry (LAFC; San Diego, Calif.), Mateo Tsakiris (LA Galaxy; Saratoga, Calif.)

FORWARDS (6): Chase Adams (Columbus Crew; Naperville, Ill.), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund/GER; El Segundo, Calif.), Nimfasha Berchimas (Charlotte FC; High Point, N.C.), Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls, New York, N.Y.), Jamir Johnson (Philadelphia Union; Huntsville, Ala.), Kellan LeBlanc (Philadelphia Union; Royersford, Pa.)

FIRST EVER MEETING AT THE U-17 WORLD CUP

U.S. Men’s Youth National Teams have become familiar with Morocco in knockout stage matches of late. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the Atlas Lions 4-0 in the quarterfinal. Just last month, the African side earned a 3-1 win against the USA in the quarterfinal of the U-20 World Cup in Chile. While those other meetings are still fresh, Friday will mark the first the two sides meet at the U-17 World Cup. This year’s competition marks the Atlas Lions third World Cup appearance, having previously participated in 2013 and 2023, advancing to the quarterfinals at the latter tournament. The U.S. will seek to improve its current record of 5W-8L-1D against countries from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

CLOSING OUT THE GROUP STAGE WITH A RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE

Morocco closed out the group stage with a record-breaking victory against New Caledonia, securing the side a spot in the Knockout stages as the 5th-best ranked team among the third placed teams. The African side defeated its opponent with a record-setting 16-0 score line, shattering the previous record for most goals in a U-17 World Cup match which was set with Spain's 13-0 win against New Zealand in 1997. In its previous matches, Morocco fell to Japan 2-0 and was bested by Portugal 6-0, ending Group B on just three points and with a record of 1W-2L-0D.

24 YEARS IN THE MAKING

With its 1-0 win against Czechia, Gonzalo Segares’ side became just the second U.S. team to go a perfect 3W-0L-0D in the group stage of the U-17 World Cup, equaling the mark set by the 1991 team. In the three matches against Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, and Czechia, the USA recorded the U.S. kept two clean sheets and conceded just one goal.

USA ROSTER NOTES

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2008, are age-eligible for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Head coach Gonzalo Segares selected 19 players born in 2008 and two born in 2009.

Cavan Sullivan has been part of three of the four U.S. goals at the World Cup. The Philadelphia Union midfielder tallied the game-winner in the 1-0 victory against Burkina Faso, set up Nimfasha Berchimas’ equalizer and then hit home the game-winning penalty kick in the USA’s 2-1 comeback win against Tajikistan.

The youngest member of the USA’s 2023 U-17 World Cup roster, striker Nimfasha Berchimas returns for his second U-17 World Cup. The Charlotte FC forward was 15 when he led the U.S. with three goals during the 2023 edition in Indonesia.

The roster features players from 15 clubs, including 17 from 11 different Major League Soccer setups, one from German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, one from Portuguese Superliga outfit Sporting Lisbon, and two players from USL clubs Birmingham Legion and Orange County SC.

USA VS. MOROCCO

Friday will mark the first meeting between the U.S. and Morocco at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

In 19 U-17 Men’s World Cups, the USA advanced to the Knockout Round on 11 occasions.

This year marks the third overall appearance for Morocco in the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, and its second straight appearance in the competition.

Morocco recorded its weakest group stage performance at a U-17 Men’s World Cup this time around, finishing third in Group B with just three points. The team lost to Japan 2-0 and Portugal 6-0 and won its final match 16-0 against New Caledonia. In 2013 it earned seven points with a record of 2W-0L-1D and in 2023 it led its group with six points totaling 2W-1L-0D.

Morocco’s best performance at the competition came in the most recent edition in 2023 held in Indonesia, when it went all the way to the quarterfinals, falling 1-0 to Mali.

11 of 21 players on Morocco’s national team are based abroad. Its head coach is Nabil Baha.

MOROCCO — 2025 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Chouaib Bellaarouch (Académie Mohammed VI De Football), Gibril Bayoumi (Amiens SC/FRA), Soufiane El Idrissi (Académie Mohammed VI De Football)

DEFENDERS (7): Hamza Bouhaddi (FUS Rabat), Ilyas El Arbaoui (Athletic Club/ESP), Joseph Bellahsen (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER), Bilal Soukrat (RS Berkane), Driss Ait Cheikh (Chippo FC), Ilyas Hidaoui (Académie Mohammed VI De Football), Moncef Zekri (KV Mechelen/BEL)

MIDFIELDERS (4): Elyes Saïdi (AJ Auxerre/FRA), Abdellah Ouazane (AFC Ajax/NED), Ahmed Mouhoub (FUS Rabat), Oualid Ibn Salah (Académie Mohammed VI De Football)

FORWARDS (7): Younes El Bayadi (RS Berkane), Ziyad Baha (Real Betis/ESP), Wassim Dardake (Toulouse FC/FRA), Zakari El Khalfioui (Toulouse FC/FRA), Nahël Haddani (AS Monaco/FRA), Ismail El Aoud (Valencia CF/ESP), Abdelali Eddaoudi (FUS Rabat)

THEIR JOURNEY TO THE WORLD CUP:

Morocco qualified to the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup after winning the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

As the host nation, Morocco spearheaded Group A alongside Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania. In its debut, the Atlas Lions defeated Uganda 5-0. In the second match it drew 0-0 with Zambia. To round out the group stage, it beat Tanzania 3-0, advancing to the quarterfinals first in its group with seven points.

The Moroccans continued its successful campaign with a 3-1 win against South Africa, followed by a semifinal victory on penalties against the Ivory Coast, and a penalty shootout win over Mali in the final to crown itself the champions of the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

U-17 WC HISTORY

The U.S. has qualified for 19 of 20 U-17 World Cups all-time, the most of any nation. The first edition of the tournament was held in China in 1985 and began as an under-16 competition known as the FIFA U-16 World Championship. The United States earned its maiden win in the group stage, securing a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Bolivia, but ultimately fell short of advancing to the knockout rounds.

In 1991, FIFA adjusted the age restriction to include all under-17 players. The USA has advanced to the knockout stage on nine occasions, achieving its best finish in 1999. That year, the team finished fourth in New Zealand, led by several future USMNT stars, including Golden Ball winner Landon Donovan and Silver Ball winner DaMarcus Beasley. It marked the first time two players from the same team claimed both awards in the same tournament — a feat replicated only once more in the competition’s history. Despite a historic run that saw the U.S. top Group A in the opening phase and defeat long-time rivals Mexico in the quarterfinals, the national team fell to Australia in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation and extra time.

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