Monday 11 May 2026

Monday 11 May 2026

Ambassador Amrani Meets with the Executive Director of the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Ambassador Amrani Meets with the Executive Director of the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, held talks in Washington with the Executive Director of the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Andrew Giuliani, a meeting that reflects both a strong interest in cooperation and the historic friendship between the Kingdom and the United States.

Appointed by President Donald Trump, Andrew Giuliani is leading what is set to be the world’s largest sporting event, scheduled from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, as well as Mexico and Canada. As the true orchestrator of this major event in the U.S, he serves as the focal point and driving force behind a complex, hierarchical structure established under the leadership of the President and Vice President of the United States to ensure that millions of fans from around the world, including supporters of the Atlas Lions, are welcomed under the best possible conditions.

Strategic engagement with Morocco is, by the American official’s own words, both a priority and a unifying commitment. As the first country to recognize the independence of the United States, the Kingdom also stands out as a future host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal, taking the baton from the 2026 edition’s organizers.

The Executive Director of the White House Task Force also praised the extraordinary infrastructure developed in the Kingdom to promote soccer worldwide, noting that the FIFA President had even expressed his “admiration” for the success of the Moroccan model, driven by a forward-looking Royal Vision that harnesses sports for development.

The meeting allowed Mr. Giuliani to emphasize his full willingness, as well as that of U.S. authorities, to work closely with Morocco to make the 2026 and 2030 events “two major successes,” set to further reinforce the exemplary nature of an exceptional bilateral alliance.

These discussions, also attended by Simon Bland, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S Department of Homeland Security, reflects a broader commitment by Washington to coordinate, collaborate, and work with Morocco to develop efficient operational approaches so that each party’s experiences can benefit all.

This commitment is all the more significant given that the 2026 World Cup is expected to draw a spectacular crowd, with 5 million tickets already sold and ticket requests exceeding 500 million since FIFA launched the first sales phase in January 2026.

For his part, Mr. Amrani emphasized that this global sporting event represents a “window into the vitality, depth, and strength of an alliance, but, above all, of an unwavering friendship, between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America.”

He noted in this regard that “Morocco’s immense joy at hosting the 2030 World Cup is all the more pronounced given that the Kingdom will take over from the 2026 edition organized by our American partners, at a time when we are also celebrating the 250th anniversary of our bilateral relations this year.”

“As the first country to recognize the independence of the United States, Morocco continues to build, in soccer as in diplomacy, a truly remarkable history, bringing together two allies bound by time and by heart,” he said.

The ambassador also welcomed the close contacts already established with U.S. authorities, particularly regarding security, noting that the Kingdom has been specifically designated, at the highest level of the U.S. government, as a partner to participate in the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup. “A signal that reflects much more than mere cooperation. It reflects an unwavering trust that continues to grow between our two countries,” he said.

While welcoming this strategic cooperation in the run-up to upcoming major global sporting events, notably the 2026 World Cup, the Moroccan diplomat noted that this recognition underscores the trust placed in Morocco, whose expertise, professionalism, and proven ability to manage international events continue to be widely praised around the world.

MAP: 04 mai 2026

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The Moroccan women’s national football team will face its Cabo Verdean opponent in a friendly fixture set for Saturday in the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat (10pm).

The Atlas Lionesses previously played a double friendly against Burkina Faso last Friday and Tuesday.

Jorge Vilda’s team won the first match 5-0 and drew the second 1-1.

These matches are part of the Moroccan team’s preparations for upcoming fixtures.

Moroccan Ghizlaine Chebbak, captain of the Atlas Lionesses, was named African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2025 ceremony, held Wednesday evening in Rabat.

Alongside Chebbak, the final list of candidates for this award also included Sanaa Mssoudy, forward for AS FAR and the Moroccan national team, and Nigerian Rasheedat Ajibade, PSG player.

The award was presented by CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

 AS FAR player Doha Madani won the Best Young Player of the Year award during the CAF Awards ceremony, held Wednesday evening in Rabat.

At 20 years old, the young Moroccan represents a true hope for Moroccan and African football.

Meanwhile, Tanzanian Clement Mzize, a TP Mazembe player, received the award for the Best Goal of the Year 2025.

Also nominated for the award were goals scored by Moroccans Oussama Lamlioui, forward for Renaissance Berkane, and Ghizlane Chebbak, captain of the Lionesses of the Atlas.

Morocco’s national U17 women’s football team defeated Costa Rica 3-1 on Friday evening at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, in the third and final match of Group A in the tournament’s final phase.


The goals for Morocco were scored by Mayssa Baha (4th minute and 39th minute, the latter from a penalty) and Fabiana Alfaro (77th minute, own goal), while Costa Rica reduced the deficit through Naima Moya in stoppage time (90+5).

Morocco’s under-17 women’s national football team fell 3-1 to Italy on Tuesday night at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, in their second Group A match of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Giulia Galli struck twice for Italy in the 5th and 13th minutes, while Rachele Giudici added a third in the 23rd. Dounia El Masmoudi pulled one back for Morocco in the 82nd minute, but it proved too little too late.

In the group’s other fixture, Brazil and Costa Rica shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw.

After two rounds of play, Italy lead Group A with six points, followed by Brazil on four and Costa Rica with one. Morocco sit bottom of the table with no points.

On the final matchday of the group stage, scheduled for Friday, October 24, Morocco will face Costa Rica, while Italy take on Brazil.

The presence of the women’s national football team, finalists in the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, at the reception hosted on Wednesday by His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the glorious Throne Day celebrations, is yet another illustration of the Sovereign’s unfailing benevolence towards sport in general and football in particular.

In fact, His Majesty the King has consistently supported Moroccan athletes by providing them with all the conditions necessary to encourage them to achieve the best results and fly the national flag high at the continental, regional, and international levels.

Speaking to the press, on the occasion of the Throne Day reception offered by HM the King, the Atlas Lionesses said that they were proud to be received by the Sovereign, adding that it is a great honor and a source of motivation to persevere in the same path in order to meet the aspirations of His Majesty the King and the Moroccan people.

This Royal gesture of goodwill is a “source of motivation to continue working for the next African Cup of Nations,” emphasized the Atlas Lionesses captain, Ghizlane Chebbak, top scorer of the continental competition. 

In this respect, she reiterated, on behalf of the entire national team, their commitment to do their best to meet the expectations of the Moroccan people.

For her part, Khadija Errmichi, the team’s goalkeeper, said that “on this occasion dear to our hearts and to the hearts of all Moroccans, the glorious Throne Day, we express our heartfelt thanks and deep gratitude to HM the King,” emphasizing that the Sovereign’s High Solicitude and Goodwill remain “unforgettable moments” forever engraved in the memory of the members of the national team.

“We will redouble our efforts to fly the national flag high and always present the best image of national women’s football,” she said.

For Sanae Messaoudi, this royal gesture is “a source of pride for all of us.” “We hope to bring happiness to the Moroccans who support us and have always supported us,” she said.

“We ask the Moroccan public to continue to support us and we promise to do our best to achieve this ambition” of winning the continental title, she said.

“It’s a dream for us. We are very happy to be received by His Majesty the King,” said Yasmine Katie Mrabet, defender for the women’s national team. 

The Moroccan international expressed the national team’s great pride in their brilliant performance during the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. “We will learn from our mistakes and work to improve,” she said.

For his part, the national women’s football team head coach, Jorge Vilda, said that he was honored to be received, along with the members of the national team, by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. “It’s an unforgettable day. The national team players are very happy,“ he said, adding that ”this noble royal gesture is a recognition of the work done.”

After their brilliant performance at the last Women’s AFCON in 2024, which the Kingdom hosted, His Majesty the King sent a message of congratulations to the members of the women’s national team, in which He praised “the outstanding competitive spirit and the high sense of patriotism” shown by the members of the national team throughout the championship.

HM the King also praised their firm determination to establish the strong presence of Moroccan football at the continental and international levels and to represent, as they should, national women’s sport, as well as the efforts of the players and the technical, medical, and administrative staff to fulfill the expectations of Moroccan fans who aspire to more titles.