The Moroccan national football team has revived its hopes of advancing to the next round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, currently underway in Qatar, after a resounding victory over New Caledonia, winning 16-0 in the third round of Group B matches. The match took place on Sunday at the Aspire Zone Stadium in Doha.
Goals for the Moroccan team were scored by Bilel Socrates (3′), Walid Bensalh (11′, 18′), Abdelali Daoudi (41′, 42′), Elias Haidawi (44′), Ziyad Baha (45+2′, 50′), Zakaria Khalfaoui (48′), Nabil Hadani (56′, 60′), and Abdullah Wazan (73′, 90+2′). An own goal by a New Caledonia player was recorded at the 76-minute mark, along with goals from Ismail Al-Oud (80′, 90′).
Qualification Opportunities
Following the results of the final round of group matches, Morocco’s U-17 team finished third in Group B with 3 points and a goal difference of +8 (16 goals scored and 8 conceded) after their impressive win.
This result means Morocco could not secure a top two position, which was claimed by Japan (7 points) and Portugal (6 points). Morocco is now waiting to see its ranking among the third-placed teams from other groups.
(Japan and Portugal qualified directly for the Round of 32, while New Caledonia was eliminated.)
Qualification Mechanism as One of the Best 8 Third-Placed Teams
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Criteria: The 12 teams that finished third in their groups are ranked based on points (primary criterion), goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head results (if necessary), and finally sportsmanship (number of cards).
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Current Situation: Most third-placed teams have 3 points (like Morocco), but the +8 goal difference is quite strong compared to others (where some third-placed teams only have a goal difference of +2 or +3 based on the available results). This positions Morocco in a competitive stance, especially with the 16 goals scored enhancing their ranking in the goals criterion.
Expected Chances of Qualification
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Very High (over 90%): The overwhelming 16-0 victory not only marks the largest win in U-17 World Cup history but has dramatically improved the goal difference, making it difficult for most competitors to surpass Morocco. For instance, if there are 4-5 third-placed teams with 3 points but lower goal differences than +8, Morocco is likely to secure a top placement.
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Dependence on Other Results: Qualification will be determined after all matches in other groups conclude (official announcements are expected in the coming hours or days). Positive results in Group A (where Qatar is relying on a potential win) could help, but even without this, Morocco’s goal difference is a protective factor.
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Possible Scenarios:
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Direct Qualification: If fewer than 8 third-placed teams achieve 4 points or more, or if the goal difference of +8 surpasses that of fewer than 8 teams.
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The only risk: If 8 third-placed teams achieve higher points (like 4 or 6) or a better goal difference, though this is unlikely based on current trends.
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