From their historic run at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ to their triumph at the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ in 2025, Morocco have certainly left their mark on the international stage in recent years. Their young talents are now exploring new horizons at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™ in Azerbaijan as they look to write the next chapter in their country’s FIFA World Cup™ story. The month of October 2026 has provided the perfect example of Morocco’s momentum. The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ is currently in full swing in Rabat, with the home side set to face DPR Korea in the round of 16 on 28 October and Karim Miftal’s U-15 side are also putting on a show in Baku, recording five wins in as many matches.

“It’s a great experience, both on a personal and sporting level,” explained Miftal in an interview with Inside FIFA. “We’ve faced teams from many different countries and experienced different styles of football, whereas we’re used to playing mainly in Africa and Europe.” 

During the preliminary round, the young Moroccans took on the Philippines, Costa Rica, Belize, Curaçao and Liberia – one Asian team, three Concacaf representatives and one African outfit – in Group F, exposing them to different styles of play in a unique tournament format.

Miftal said the innovative 8v8 format with 20-minute halves, designed to maximise player development and match experience, provided a perfect introduction to international football.

“The eight-a-side format is also a learning environment,” he explained. “It makes for some very intense matches and bridges the gap between teams. The tight spaces, the different game situations and the opponents’ various playing styles all encourage young players to adapt and develop their creativity. It presents them with new challenges and contributes to their development.”

“It’s interesting to take part in this type of competition because it prepares players for high-level football,” he also noted, before highlighting the atmosphere in the athletes’ village, where delegations mingle and share their passion for the game – all of which serves as a reminder that a FIFA World Cup, at any level, is also an opportunity for people to meet and discover new things. “It’s a (FIFA) World Cup, a beautiful experience and a great tournament to play in,” continued the former Moroccan international, who as a coach tries to be close to his players, kind and yet demanding, “as that’s what will allow them to progress and hopefully reach the very highest level”.

Moroccan teams may have been thrilling fans with their performances on the pitch in recent years, but the country is also opening its doors to the world of football, and last year they became the first African hosts of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™, a tournament they will stage every year until 2029.

All of this is part of Morocco’s determination to establish itself as a long-term destination for world football, whilst offering Moroccan fans the opportunity to experience major international competitions first-hand.

In 2030, the country will co-host the FIFA World Cup™ with Spain and Portugal, ushering in a new chapter in their FIFA World Cup journey. Perhaps some of the 14 Atlas Lion Cubs currently taking their first steps on the international stage in Azerbaijan will have the chance to be part of that global extravaganza on home soil.