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Rabat – Football-mad Morocco is gearing up for the biggest moment in its sports history. The country is hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, and Argentina’s top sports magazine Olé can’t believe the country’s obsession with the beautiful game, calling Morocco “a country that breathes football”.
Morocco is not a foreign place to Argentine football legends. Diego Maradona was a regular visitor to Morocco, while Lionel Messi chose Marrakech for a luxury retreat with family two years ago.
From the bustling streets of Casablanca to the golden beaches of Tangier, football is life in Morocco. Kids dream big, hoping one day they will become the next Hakim Ziyech or Achraf Hakimi. Olé says “there is a champion in every neighborhood.”
Morocco is not all talk – it’s building. The Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, near Casablanca, is on track to become the biggest and most jaw-dropping stadium in the world. The state-of-the-art stadium will seat 115,000 and is inspired by traditional tents. It will feature hotels, a shopping mall, and even a bullet-train station.
Over to Tangier and Rabat, Ibn Batouta and Moulay Abdellah are respectively getting major upgrades to host the biggest celebration of football on the planet.
King Mohamed VI understands that football is Morocco’s golden ticket to worldwide publicity. He’s invested millions of dollars into revamping the infrastructure and erecting world class facilities.
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During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, nobody saw it coming. Morocco shocked the world and became the first ever African team to reach the semi-finals. They knocked out Spain and Portugal in their stride, before a tight 2-1 defeat against France.
Everyone claimed it was a fluke. But Faouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan football federation, put rumours to rest and said it boldly: “We can be world champions in 2026.”
Morocco has what it takes to reign supreme in Africa and beyond. With a young, hungry squad, they are already setting their sights on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosted on their home soil.
Meanwhile, Casablanca giant, Wydad Athletic, is preparing for the first-ever Clubs World Cup in the US. The Reds have drawn heavyweight teams: Manchester City, Juventus, and Al-Ain of UAE.
Olé said it clearly: Morocco is more than just a football-loving nation. It’s a budding football powerhouse, and the Atlas Lions will continue to roar for years to come.
