Rabat – French sports daily L’Equipe described the Mohammed VI Football Academy as “one of the best in the world,” crediting the institution for Morocco’s remarkable rise across youth football categories.
The recognition comes after the national U20 team’s historic World Cup victory against Argentina in Chile on Sunday.
“Since a few years now, Morocco has been shining in all youth categories,” wrote L’Equipe, recalling the national team’s growing list of achievements, including the U23 Africa Cup of Nations title in 2023, a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics, a runner-up finish at the U20 AFCON, and now the 2025 U20 World Cup.
L’Equipe described Morocco’s recent success as the result of “an ambitious plan” launched by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation in 2021, combining “local training and detection of dual nationals.”
It noted that the victory in Chile – along with defeating France in the semifinals and Argentina in the final (2-0) – “confirms the growing strength of Moroccan football on the international stage.”
L’Equipe also pointed to the strong development system built around the Mohammed VI Football Academy.
Founded in 2009, the Mohammed VI Football Academy is described by L’Equipe as “a model that brings together the best profiles, whether trained locally or abroad, around an ambitious national project.”
According to the French media, this model has turned Morocco into a powerhouse of youth football, nurturing a generation of players who now form “the backbone of a national team capable of competing and winning on the global stage.”
L’Equipe concluded that the next milestone for Morocco’s youth football will be “the U17 World Cup next month in Qatar,” as the country continues to build on its growing success.
