Saturday 06 June 2026

Saturday 06 June 2026

Thanks to His Majesty the King’s Vision, Morocco Has Become a Global Football Powerhouse (CONCACAF President)

أكد فيكتور مونتالياني، رئيس اتحاد أمريكا الشمالية والوسطى والكاريبي لكرة القدم (كونكاكاف)، ونائب رئيس الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (فيفا)، أن المغرب، وبفضل رؤية صاحب الجلالة الملك محمد السادس، أصبح اليوم يفرض مكانته كقوة كروية عالمية.
Thanks to the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has become a global football powerhouse, said Victor Montagliani, President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and Vice President of FIFA.

“Morocco has an incredible history. The vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the work carried out by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation have positioned the Kingdom among the great footballing nations,” Montagliani underlined in an interview with MAP.

In this regard, he praised the strategy for developing Moroccan football, initiated under the leadership of His Majesty the King, and the recent achievements of the national team, citing the milestone achieved by Morocco’s U20 team in the World Cup and the historic achievement of the Atlas Lions in the last World Cup in Qatar (semifinals).

The Mohammed VI Football Academy is at the heart of this success story, noted the CONCACAF President, explaining that this institution plays a major role in promoting football and represents a model to be followed by many countries.

“I think Morocco today is not only the best in Africa, but one of the best in the world. And I’m sure many teams will want to avoid facing Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, because they are a very good team,” he said.

Referring to the preparations underway for the 2026 World Cup, Montagliani assured that the host countries, namely the United States, Canada, and Mexico, are “ready” to host a World Cup that promises to be “the biggest ever organized.”

This unprecedented edition of football’s premier competition is the first to be jointly organized by three countries and the first to feature 48 teams, which will play a total of 104 matches, including 78 in the United States, 13 in Canada, and 13 in Mexico, he noted.

The matches in this global tournament will be played in 16 stadiums: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. The opening match is scheduled for June 11 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

MAP: 21 December 2025

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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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.”