Morocco made history at the U20 World Cup in Chile, claiming its first-ever title and becoming the first team to successfully use FIFA's new green card challenge system. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who credited his staff for the move, used the card twice during the tournament, once against Spain and again in the final versus Argentina, each time changing the course of the game. At this year's U20 World Cup in Chile, Morocco made history twice : Winning its first-ever U20 World title and becoming the first national team to successfully use FIFA's new green card challenge system. Not only did Morocco employ this innovation, but coach Mohamed Ouahbi also knew exactly how to use it. During the historic final against Argentina, Morocco invoked the green card system for its second time in the tournament. Just six minutes into the match, the Moroccan bench used it to request a VAR review of a controversial play. «Yassir Zabiri was left one-on-one with the Argentine goalkeeper. He took a shot, and the two collided on the edge of the box, prompting Morocco to appeal for a penalty», reported Spain-based sports outlet Vavel in its live coverage. A Game-Changing Green Card Morocco sought both a red card and a penalty, but the VAR review determined that the foul occurred just outside the penalty area. Though disappointed, the Atlas Cubs were awarded a free kick and Zabiri turned that moment into magic. The 19-year-old curled a stunning shot into the top corner, opening the scoring early in the match. It was a masterful use of FIFA's new card system. Morocco went on to secure a 2–0 victory, with Zabiri scoring again to seal the country's first U20 World Cup title. To Ouahbi, his team should be thanked for the decision. «Many people will talk about me, but I want to thank my staff. They talk about my use of the green card in my favor, but it wasn't my decision», he said during the post-match press conference. This wasn't Ouahbi's first successful challenge. During Morocco's 2–0 win over Spain earlier in the tournament, he became the first coach in FIFA history to use the green card to overturn a referee's decision. Midway through that match, after a penalty was awarded to Spain, Ouahbi swiftly flashed the card, triggering an official review. Upon examining the footage, the referee reversed his call and canceled the penalty, maintaining Morocco's lead. The green card allows coaches to formally contest refereeing decisions and request a VAR review. Each team is allowed a maximum of two appeals per game, a measure aimed at limiting unnecessary interruptions while ensuring greater accountability for officials. The system, currently in its trial phase, was maintained throughout the U20 World Cup before FIFA considers expanding it to senior competitions.
