Complicated but Still Possible: Morocco U17's Last Hopes for World Cup Qualification in Qatar

Despite a challenging start and heavy defeats to Japan (0-2) and Portugal (0-6), the Moroccan U17 national team still clings to a slim hope of qualifying for the second round of the World Cup currently being held in Qatar. However, the calculations this time are complex and require more than just a victory.

Morocco currently sits in fourth place in Group B with zero points and a goal difference of minus eight, trailing Portugal (six points), Japan (four points), and New Caledonia (one point). The path forward is clear: a decisive win in their final match against New Caledonia by a significant margin is essential, coupled with awaiting the results from other groups to determine their chances of qualifying as one of the “best third-placed teams.”

In the ranking of best third-placed teams, Tunisia currently leads with three points and a +5 goal difference, followed by Colombia, Costa Rica, and Qatar, each with one point. New Caledonia, Mexico, Paraguay, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Saudi Arabia have either one point or no points, along with negative goal differences.

Morocco's chances remain alive provided they secure a comprehensive victory over New Caledonia and improve their goal difference as much as possible, hoping that other teams competing for third place in their respective groups falter. Should this occur, the Atlas Cubs could potentially secure one of the eight qualifying spots among the third-placed teams and advance to the next round.

Mathematically, the Moroccan team needs to achieve a victory of at least four goals to nil against New Caledonia to raise their tally to three points with an acceptable goal difference (approximately -4). They would then need one of the one-point third-placed teams, such as Qatar or Costa Rica, to lose or draw. In this scenario, Morocco might find themselves among the last qualifying spots as a “best third-placed team.”

The situation is difficult and complex, but not impossible. The Moroccan team is called upon to deliver a strong reaction to restore confidence after two harsh losses, especially since their performance during certain periods of the Japan match showed promising young elements capable of rising to the challenge. A win alone might not guarantee qualification, but it would restore pride and spirit to the Atlas Cubs, who aim to conclude their group stage journey honorably, hoping for favorable calculations in the final round.