From the streets of New York and Orlando, Florida, to the wider Washington metropolitan area, Moroccan expatriates across the United States celebrated with overwhelming joy the historic victory of Morocco's U20 national football team, which defeated Argentina 2–0 on Sunday to win the FIFA U20 World Cup. Wrapped in national flags, Moroccan fans—men, women, and children—took to the streets in jubilation, celebrating this unprecedented triumph that confirms Morocco's status as a major football nation. In Washington, Maryland, and Virginia, dozens of Moroccans poured into the streets as soon as the final whistle blew, celebrating «Moroccan-style». «Morocco crowned world champion! It's a huge source of pride to see our country go this far», said Jawad, a Moroccan living in Virginia. «This victory reflects our Moroccan identity and the King's vision for football and national sports». Khaoula, a Moroccan student in Alexandria, Virginia, echoed the same sentiment, calling the win «the fruit of a transformative royal vision». Artist Merouane from Arlington added: «These young players carried the national flag high with strength and determination. For Moroccans in the U.S., this is an indescribable pride, an unforgettable moment». In New York, scenes of joy filled Times Square and Astoria, home to a vibrant Moroccan community. Clad in red and green, men, women, and children gathered to express their love for their homeland and pride in an achievement that will be remembered as golden. «On behalf of the Moroccan community in the U.S., I express my pride in this well-deserved victory, the result of a strategy designed at the highest level of the state», said Khadija, a longtime community activist in New York. For Ahmed, who watched the final with his son Jamal, «celebrating this historic feat alongside fellow Moroccans in New York is a memory we'll cherish forever». Said, a Moroccan from Albany, praised the team's «exceptional performance», noting that Morocco has now become «the first Arab nation to win the U20 World Cup». «This generation of players has written history», said Said, «demonstrating perseverance, teamwork, and discipline, proof of a visionary strategy that guarantees continued success across all sports». Abdeslam El Idrissi, a professor at the City University of New York (CUNY), highlighted that this «historic victory» is the fruit of long-term investment in Moroccan youth and world-class sports infrastructure. «It embodies the enlightened vision of King Mohammed VI, thanks to which Morocco has achieved remarkable progress in sports—and continues to do so in science, technology, sustainable development, and diplomacy», he concluded.
