U17 World Cup: Japan vs Morocco Preview
Today, Japan will face Morocco in the opening match of Group B at the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup, held at Aspire Zone – Pitch 5 stadium in Doha, Qatar. Morocco, coached by Nabil Baha, aims to begin the tournament with a win, building on their recent success, including winning the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year.
Match Details
- Competition: 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup - Group B Matchday 1
- Venue: Aspire Zone – Pitch 5 stadium, Doha, Qatar
- Referee: Andrea Colombo (Italy)
- How to Watch: Arriyadia TNT, FIFA+
Team Form and Key Players
Japan
Japan enters the tournament with confidence after a convincing 4-0 win against Australia in a preparatory match. Their best performances at the U17 World Cup came in 1993 and 2011 when they reached the quarterfinals. Key players to watch include midfielder Maki Kitahara from FC Tokyo, noted for his attacking play and vision, and Hiroto Asada from Yokohama F. Marinos, who scored against Morocco in their last encounter in June.
Morocco
Morocco arrives in strong form, having won their U17 warm-up games 2-0 against Switzerland and 4-3 against Uzbekistan. Their best U17 World Cup result was reaching the quarterfinals in 2023. Important players to follow are midfielder Abdellah Ouazzane from Ajax Youth, shining after an impressive U17 AFCON performance, and forward Ziyad Baha from Calavera CF U19, expected to lead Morocco’s attack.
"Morocco will seek to start their tournament with a win and confirm their recent positive results, most notably their U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title earlier this year." — Team statement
Author’s summary: Japan and Morocco open Group B with strong squads featuring standout midfielders and forwards, both aiming to progress beyond their historic quarterfinal achievements at the U17 World Cup.