As the Under-20 World Cup (U20 World Cup) draws near, set to take place from September 27 to October 19, 2025, in Chile, both Morocco and Spain are eyeing the same pool of dual-nationality talents. Among the young players listed in the preliminary rosters of both national teams, some appear in both the Atlas Lions and La Roja squads, such as Rachad Fettal and Thiago Pitarch. These two players from Real Madrid and Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team of the Merengues, face a crucial decision between the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and its Spanish counterpart (RFEF). In the U20 World Cup, Morocco and Spain are placed in Group C and are set to clash on September 28. Meanwhile, these Moroccan-Spanish talents will take their time deciding which national colors to don. Over the years, many of them have been approached by federation scouts, like Brahim Diaz and Lamine Yamal, each of whom has chosen a different national team. Recruited by Real Madrid Castilla from Almeria, forward Rachad Fettal made a mark in the preseason by scoring five goals, accounting for half of his club's total. Recently, midfielder Thiago Pitarch was called up by Xabi Alonso to join the Merengues' training sessions, as the team grapples with injuries in the main squad. On the national team front, Rachad Fettal has already played a match with Spain U18 in 2023, during which he scored one of the three goals in a victory against Italy (3-1). He has also represented Morocco U20 seven times, netting two goals.
