The quarterfinal curse struck again. For the fifth straight time, the U.S. Under-20 men’s national team stopped at the same stage of the World Cup. They had the ball, they had the chances, but not the result. The story, all too familiar, repeated itself against Morocco, with 76 percent possession, 14 shots, and a 3–1 defeat. It was a harsh contrast between the team that controlled the game and the one that knew how to win.
When control isn’t enough
The USMNT started with energy. Zavier Gozo hit the crossbar, Frankie Westfield and Brooklyn Raines created good plays, and Cole Campbell tied it from the penalty spot in stoppage time, just when the game seemed to be slipping away. The first half was all American control, but not on the scoreboard. Morocco took its chances. In the 31st minute, Zabiri opened the scoring after a rebound inside the box, and from that point on it was clear what kind of match it would be, a disciplined and confident team ready to suffer when needed.
In the second half, the U.S. kept pressing, trying down the right, the left, and through the air. The plays were there, but the goals weren’t. Morocco held firm and waited. In the 66th minute, a simple play turned into a nightmare, a long throw-in, a deflection, and the ball ended up in the American net. The scoreboard tilted again and time began to work against them.
Still, Mitrović’s team didn’t give up. Westfield, Habroune, and Baker-Whiting tried everything but kept running into a defense that refused to crack. Goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch made key saves and every cross seemed to meet a Moroccan wall. Then, in the 88th minute, a miscommunication in the U.S. backline sealed their fate. Boumassaoudi pounced on the mistake and set up Yassine, who finished it off and ended the American campaign.
The curse lives on and Morocco makes history
The USMNT put together a strong tournament with impressive wins over France and Italy and record numbers of goals and scorers. Still, the quarterfinal barrier remains untouched since 1989. The team’s progress is clear but so are the costly details that keep showing up in decisive games.
Meanwhile, Morocco celebrates a historic achievement. The victory sends the country to its first FIFA Under-20 World Cup semifinal in 20 years, a milestone that reflects how far Moroccan soccer has come at every level, from youth to the top.