Moroccan Freestyle Champion Mehdi Amri Makes Mark in Kings World Cup Nations

Doha – From freestyle football to competitive play, 21-year-old Mehdi Amri has emerged as a key figure in Morocco’s Kings World Cup Nations campaign in Italy.

The Belgian-born athlete, who chose to represent his ancestral homeland Morocco under the guidance of record-breaking Kick streamer Ilyas El Maliki, has wasted no time showcasing the technical brilliance that earned him international recognition.

Born in Uccle, Brussels, Amri developed his footballing prowess on the small pitches under the Vilvorde bridge.

Despite being deemed “too small” for professional clubs early in his career, he channeled his energy into freestyle football, becoming a world champion in Panna, a one-on-one freestyle variant.

His journey to success includes multiple world championships, with victories at the Pannahouse Invitationals in Copenhagen from 2020 to 2022.

Before joining the Kings World Cup Nations, Amri had already built a substantial following on social media, amassing 2.8 million Instagram followers and 5.8 million on TikTok as of January 6.

‘I came to make a difference’

Speaking ahead of his debut match against Colombia on January 2, Amri expressed confidence in his ability to contribute to the team.

“We are a really good team. We have a good connection and a lot of players that can dribble and create action, and I think I’m one of them,” he said.

“I can make the difference in the last minutes by making a dribble and scoring, so I hope to use my dribble and show everyone that a freestyler can play football.”

His words proved prophetic as he has electrified the tournament with a mesmerizing solo run against Ukraine, weaving past multiple defenders before finding the back of the net in Messi-like fashion, contributing to Morocco’s commanding 9-2 victory. This win came after a 4-1 loss to Colombia in their opening match.

Morocco now faces Japan today at 6 p.m. local time at KL Arena in Milano. Both teams retain chances to advance to the quarter-finals through the last-chance round, with Japan coming off a 3-1 victory against Italy and a narrow 2-1 loss to Argentina.

The Kings World Cup Nations, founded by former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué and streamer Ibai Llanos, runs from January 1 to January 12 in Italy.

The seven-a-side tournament features 20-minute halves, with teams comprising seven players on the field and three substitutes. The competition uniquely brings together amateur players, professionals, and veterans in a format that differs from traditional leagues.