U17 World Cup: Japan vs Morocco Preview
Today, Japan faces Morocco in Group B’s opening match at the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup in Doha, Qatar. Morocco, coached by Nabil Baha, aims to continue their strong performance following their U17 Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year.
Match Details
- Competition: 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup - Group B Matchday 1
- Venue: Aspire Zone – Pitch 5, Doha, Qatar
- Referee: Andrea Colombo (Italy)
- Broadcast: Arriyadia TNT, FIFA+
Japan Team Overview
Japan’s U17 squad recently defeated Australia 4-0 in a preparatory friendly. Their best U17 World Cup results came with quarterfinal appearances in 1993 and 2011. Key players to watch include midfielder Maki Kitahara (FC Tokyo) known for his attacking play and precise passing, and Hiroto Asada (Yokohama F. Marinos), who scored against Morocco in their last meeting in June.
Morocco Team Overview
Morocco enters the tournament in good form, winning their warm-up matches 2-0 against Switzerland and 4-3 against Uzbekistan. Their best U17 World Cup performance was reaching the quarterfinals in 2023. Standout players include midfielder Abdellah Ouazzane (Ajax Youth), praised for his U17 AFCON performances, and forward Ziyad Baha (Calavera CF U19), expected to lead Morocco’s attack.
"The players to watch will be midfielder Abdellah Ouazzane (Ajax Youth), who is expected to excel after a stellar U17 AFCON campaign."
"Hiroto Asada is expected to prove as Japan’s main attacking threat, having scored against Morocco during the two teams’ last meeting."
Both teams aim to start strong in this tightly contested Group B opener at the Aspire Zone.
Author’s summary: Japan and Morocco clash in the U17 World Cup opener, each boasting strong preparation and key talents aiming to reach at least the quarterfinal stage.