Morocco Embeds Football in Public Policies with Bold Investments – L’Équipe

2025-07-07

As it prepares to host major international sporting events, the Kingdom of Morocco has placed football at the heart of its public policy, undertaking massive investments in infrastructure, according to the French sports daily L’Équipe.

“Behind the resilience of Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi during the 2022 Qatar World Cup—a performance that captivated the world—lies another reality: that of a country that has embedded football into its core public strategies,” writes the renowned outlet in an article named “Ahead of the 2030 World Cup, Morocco Pulls Out All Stops to Enhance Infrastructure.”

In an in-depth feature exploring “the foundations of this rapidly growing footballing nation,” the newspaper highlights, with supporting photographs, the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, inaugurated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2019.

Spread over 35 hectares on the edge of the vast Maâmora Forest, the complex cost nearly €60 million and should be profitable within six years, according to L’Équipe, citing Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).

“The establishment of the complex has allowed us to host all 25 national teams on-site, including futsal and beach soccer squads. This has significantly reduced accommodation and transport costs,” explains Lekjaa.

The center, managed as a joint-stock company, is a hub for a wide range of events and audiences: from referee academy classes and federation training seminars to CAF meetings and even the African Ballon d’Or ceremony. According to the article’s author, several FIFA departments will soon be based there, near the future national football museum.

The complex also includes eleven football pitches, five hotels with spacious rooms, a mosque next to an Olympic swimming pool, and a cutting-edge medical center, the report adds.

For the purposes of the article, L’Équipe also visited the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, which is undergoing extensive renovations in preparation for upcoming competitions.

Originally inaugurated in 2011 with over 45,000 seats surrounding an athletics track, the stadium was first refurbished in 2019. However, with the 2030 World Cup on the horizon, the venue is now being transformed to meet FIFA standards, expanding to 62,544 seats, adding luxury boxes, and enhancing all facilities.

As part of this large-scale transformation, 1,200 workers have installed a 55,000 m² metal roof structure, reportedly the second-largest in the world after the Maracanã. The Kingdom has invested more than €340 million to upgrade the stadium, the article details.

“With rows of seats in ocean blue and soft white tones, the Tangier stadium evokes a sense of calm,” the paper continues, describing “immense corridors around the pitch, leading to nearly 142 skyboxes, some vast as continents, others perched high with panoramic views of the Mediterranean.”

Ahead of the 2030 World Cup, Morocco will host two major trial events: the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (July 5–26), starting this Saturday, and the Men’s edition (December 21 – January 18).

In recent years, Morocco has made substantial investments in its sports sector, the specialized publication concludes.

MAP: 03 July 2025

Morocco’s Selection to Host 77th FIFA Congress Reflects Major Trust in the Kingdom – FRMF

Morocco’s choice as host of 77th FIFA Elective Congress confirms yet again the major trust put in the Kingdom, as well as its reputation in organizing large international gatherings, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) states.

Rabat will host the FIFA Elective General Assembly on March 18, 2027, marking the second time the Kingdom has organized this event, following the Ordinary General Assembly held in Marrakech in 2005, the FRMF adds in a press release.

Gianni Infantino, president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), announced on Thursday the selection of the capital Rabat to host the elective congress of its General Assembly during its 77th session, with the participation of approximately 2,000 people representing 211 national associations from around the world, the same source notes.

Members of the FIFA Council, meeting in Vancouver, Canada, unanimously approved this decision, the press release points out.

Morocco’s FRMF Endorses Infantino’s Candidacy for FIFA Presidency

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), chaired by Fouzi Lekjaa, announces its support for Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for the FIFA presidency.

In a letter of nomination and support published on its official website, the FRMF “officially endorses” Infantino’s candidacy at the elective Congress of world football’s governing body, to be held in Rabat on March 18, 2027.

In this regard, the FRMF wishes to clarify “that it exclusively supports Gianni Infantino for the position of FIFA President and, consequently, will not sign any other declaration of support for any other candidate for this position.”

This letter highlights the significant work carried out by Gianni Infantino and his team to promote African and global football, the FRMF emphasizes, expressing its determination to maintain its “fruitful cooperation” with FIFA bodies under the presidency of Gianni Infantino for the development and growth of football.

Morocco to Host 77th FIFA Congress in 2027

Morocco was selected on Thursday to host the 77th FIFA Congress, scheduled for March 18, 2027.

The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the 76th Congress of world soccer’s governing body, held in Vancouver, Canada.

Morocco, Key Player in LaLiga’s International Expansion – Pres. Javier Tebas

The Spanish league’s international reach is firmly anchored in Morocco, LaLiga President Javier Tebas emphasized in an exclusive interview with MAP, highlighting the historical, cultural, and sporting ties between the two countries.

According to Tebas, the Middle East and North Africa region is a strategic market for LaLiga, thanks to the enthusiasm of passionate fans. In this context, Morocco holds a special place, as it is linked through “a unique historical relationship, and I think that is also reflected in football,” he stated.

In this regard, the LaLiga president highlighted deep relations between the two countries in the sporting arena. “There have always been many ties, as well as a spirit of unity and mutual understanding between Spain and Morocco in the field of sports in general and football in particular,” he explained.

For LaLiga, the enthusiasm of Moroccan fans for Spanish football give s a decisive edge over other leagues such as the Premier League. Tebas believes that in terms of viewership in this region, LaLiga could even surpass its main English rival.

This advantage is driven by the two countries’ geographical proximity, intertwined history, and the recent meteoric rise of Moroccan football, which Tebas deems “well-deserved and hard-earned achievements.”

World Football Undergoes Quiet Revolution Under Infantino Era – Morocco’s Federation Head

World football is undergoing a quiet revolution under the era of Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, said Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).

“Overall, we are witnessing a quiet revolution in world football, a metamorphosis of FIFA,” Lekjaa stated in a video message broadcast on the Moroccan national team’s social media accounts on the occasion of the ten years Infantino has spent at the helm of the international football governing body.

“Speaking about Gianni Infantino’s record (elected on February 26, 2016) at the head of FIFA, I think it is clear to recall that what he has achieved is enormous. It is a complete transformation of FIFA,” Lekjaa emphasized.

“I would cite the total revision of FIFA’s governance, particularly regarding the clean-up of its finances, which has multiplied FIFA’s revenues and resources and subsequently made it possible to double and triple development efforts across all continents,” noted the FRMF president.

In the same vein, Lekjaa referred to “the revision and reforms related to competitions, starting with the men’s World Cup by increasing the number of teams, and extending to all competitions across all age categories, encompassing both men’s and women’s football.”

“Like all African and global federations, we have all benefited from the resources allocated to development, which has accelerated football development programs, whether in terms of infrastructure or technical supervision,” the FRMF head noted.

Morocco’s Football Federation Denies Reports on New Coach Appointment

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) denied Thursday reports circulated by certain media outlets on the appointment of a new head coach for the Atlas Lions.

In a press release, the FRMF said it “will inform the public opinion -as it has always done – of any updates regarding the national team in due course.”

Sunday 10 May 2026