U17s vs. Morocco, Nov. 14, 2025 (Pre-/PBP/Post-Match Thread)10:45 Eastern

I agree. The rest disparity is super annoying, but unavoidable.

With this format there was no way to ensure Round of 32 opponents were playing their last group game on the same day.

Its the case all over the draw.

 

IIRC we had the extra 2 days rest advantage 2 years ago against Uruguay in the U-20. It did not seem to help us one bit.

 

Morocco are kind of like our "Ghana of youth football" but that may not necessarily be a bad thing as third time lucky right? Anyway, looking at the ticketing, this game is billed as one of the two "prime games" FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025™ Tickets | Road to Qatar .... meaning you have to buy a special ticket that costs 30 riyals instead of the 20 riyal day pass. The 20 riyal ($5.50) pass gets you around all the grounds and into the stands for 6/8 of the games, but for the other two games you have to pay and extra 10 riyals ($3) to get a seat in the stands for one of the two prime games. Switzerland v Egypt is the other prime game. Tunisia v Austria is one of the prime games on day 2 of Ro32 so obviously the Arab teams are expected to draw the bigger crowds.

Personally, I made the mistake of buying a prime ticket for France v Canada the other day when you can just watch from behind the goal and their are other better concurrent games going on for free you can wander around to. Anyway, unfortunately I won't be around this weekend for this game but will be at R016 should we make it through. And yes, I'll buy the prime ticket if we happen to land that again....

 

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Weirdly, Hall and Stokes got “called up” to train with RB Leipzig during the November international break.

https://bsky.app/profile/tombogert.bsky.social/post/3m5enyztt5s2h

 

After 9bpoints and zero GA, can we expect them to win the tournament, now?

 

If it happens, it will be against all odds.
Our midfield is not as strong as we all hoped before the tournament.
So far, we are advancing because of Albert, Sullivan, and Berchimas.
We need Terry and Carrizo to do more.

 

They allowed a goal against Tajikistan.

 

This?

---------------------Adams-----------------------
-----Albert--------Sullivan-----Berchimas--
-----------------Moisa-----Terry---------------
Guimeras--Hamuoda---Cupps------Villa
---------------------Stokes---------------------

 

I asked this last month during the U-20 tournament, but I'll pose the same question here:

Does anyone know if this Morocco roster is similar to their men's in the past couple of World Cups? By that I mean, are the majority of the players born/raised/produced in Europe?

 

@sebasour

 

From a Reddit post the other day:
Morocco did win the U17 Africa Cup of Nations this Spring, beating Mali on penalty kicks. However, for whatever reason, they are missing 3 very key starters from that team - RW Ilies Belmokhtar (AS Monaco) considered to be the best U17 player in all of France, CM Amine Ouahabi (KV Mechelen in Belgium), and CB Nassim El Massoudi (Bayer Leverkusen). Without the 3, they lost 2-0 to Japan and 6-0 to Portugal, before running up the score against 9-man New Caledonia 16-0. Nevertheless there still is a great deal of talent on the Morocco team, led by KV Mechelen senior team starter LB Moncef Zekri and Jong Ajax AM and captain Abdullah Ouazane. This will be a tough game, but definitely winnable though.

 

I don't know if against all odds. I think we should beat Morocco and then Mali/Zambia. After that I'm not sure we can beat Brazil and then Argentina but I can see it happen.

 

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Malik Jakupovic 16, CF wit 2 amazing goals for USMNT U-17 against England today. Very impressive!

im so confused. why is there a separate usa u17 team playing right now?

and why isnt Jakupovic on the team at the U17 WC???

 

Looks like there is a separate U17 national team training camp squad - in Dubai.

US played England and lost 5 - 2 ... I guess our two goals were scored by him.

 

again....why???

so weird to have 2 u17 teams playing at the same time...and this guy jakupovic is incredible he should be at the WC

 

Probably for the same reason that England has a second U17 while their first team is at the U17 World Cup -- to keep players engaged in the program and get them some reps.

The U17 World Cup is moving an annual tournament as well -- they play again next year in Qatar. So I imagine they want to especially keep the 16 year olds who just missed the team engaged with the program and prepping for next year.

Jakupovic is a Bosnian-American dual national -- would you rather he be at a Bosnian camp today?

 

From our experience with the kids from that region, sure, 100% Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia they'd prefer it.

 

The Qatar camp is for 2009s who will have a u17 World Cup next year. Since the new season started in Aug, they are considered u17

 

Uh, Pulisic?

 

I would say the difference is that Pulisic's parents are second (or later) generation Americans. Don't quote me on this, but I believe Jakupovic's parents are first generation Americans.

We tend to struggle with kids who are second generation Americans when it's the USA vs. a competitive footballing nation.