Marrakech – Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch stated Friday that Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal represents far more than a global sporting event – it serves as a “strategic transformation accelerator” for the North African country.
Speaking via video address at the 8th Morocco Today Forum (MTF) in Rabat, the country’s executive leader outlined the tournament’s transformative potential.
“It’s an opportunity to realize, at all levels, the Royal Will to consolidate the foundations of a dynamic, inclusive and sovereign Morocco,” he said.
The forum, held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, centered on the theme “Vision of a King – Morocco 2030: Consolidating the Foundations of a Great Nation.”
Akhannouch mentioned numerous projects either completed or underway throughout the country. These include internationally-compliant infrastructure, high-speed rail networks, major airport hubs, highways, urban ring roads, and tourism and hospital infrastructure.
He added that Morocco’s partners, including global leaders in their respective sectors and national businesses, are engaging with opportunities created by the country’s openness to cutting-edge industries, clean energy, telecommunications, digitalization and other promising sectors.
“In many sectors, Morocco is moving toward becoming a continental, regional, and even international reference,” he continued.
“The organization of the 2030 World Cup will come to consolidate and accelerate this metamorphosis of Morocco under the enlightened leadership of King Mohammed VI,” Akhannouch asserted.
The prime minister noted that sporting infrastructure is experiencing considerable development to meet top international standards. These facilities are designed not only to host major international sporting events but also to drive growth and social cohesion across multiple cities.
He pointed out that the hotel sector is undergoing profound overhaul, supported by unprecedented growth in demand for Morocco as a destination, with a record 17.4 million tourists in 2024.
‘It’s about embodying tomorrow’s Morocco’
In his contribution to the forum, Youssef Amrani, Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, framed the 2030 World Cup as more than a privilege – it’s “a moral contract with oneself and with the world.”
“It’s not about building a few stadiums or developing infrastructure. It’s about embodying tomorrow’s Morocco,” Amrani said. “A horizon cannot be decreed. It must be prepared for, anticipated, and earned.”
The MTF 2025 is structured around three key panels: placing human capital at the heart of development, accelerating sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and building a resilient “Digital Nation.”
Mohammed Haitami, president of Le Matin Group which organizes the forum, clarified that this prestigious global sporting event is not merely about hosting twenty football matches but driving a national leap forward.
“It’s a unique opportunity to mobilize the country around a structuring project, to modernize our infrastructure, to converge our efforts toward the same goal,” Haitami explained. The planned investment approaches MAD 500 billion ($50 billion).
The event is gathering national and international decision-makers, researchers, and key figures from the sports, economic, digital, and media sectors.
High-level participation includes the Head of Government, six ministers, and Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the 2030 World Cup Committee, alongside Miguel Ángel Moratinos, former Spanish minister and current UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.
Based on projections from FIFA and macroeconomic analyses cited by Ambassador Amrani, the World Cup could generate a direct and indirect impact equivalent to 4% of Morocco’s GDP through investment, employment, tourism, and global image enhancement.
Since its inception in 2016, the MTF has established itself as a space for strategic reflection aligned with the Royal Vision. Each edition produces a White Paper submitted to decision-makers as a contribution to national development strategy.
Read also: Morocco Prepares for 2030 FIFA World Cup with New National Sports Foundation
