Infantino: ‘Morocco Has Become One of the World Centers of Football’

Marrakech – FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived in Rabat on Saturday, where he was welcomed by Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaa. During his visit, Infantino spoke about Morocco’s football achievements and upcoming hosting duties.

“I am very content and happy to be here. It’s always a pleasure to be in Morocco, a country that lives and breathes football every day,” said Infantino upon his arrival in the Moroccan capital.

The FIFA chief was quick to acknowledge Morocco’s status in the global football landscape. “Morocco has become one of the world centers of football,” he stated, noting the high level of both the men’s and women’s national teams.

“The Moroccan men’s and women’s teams play extraordinarily well and have incredible talents,” Infantino remarked. He also commended Morocco’s capacity to host sporting events in a “spectacular” manner.

Infantino recognized the work accomplished by the FRMF in recent years. He mentioned the “great success” of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) taking place in the country, both in sporting terms and public attendance.

Morocco is preparing to host several major tournaments in the coming years. The country will welcome five consecutive editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and will co-host the 2030 World Cup.

During a video message played at the U-17 Women’s World Cup draw ceremony in June at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maâmora, Infantino called Morocco “a fabulous country and land of football.” He noted that Morocco is “the first African country to host this World Cup.”

The FIFA president explained that the tournament will serve as a crucial platform to discover emerging talent, giving young female players worldwide an opportunity to showcase their skills on the global stage.

Infantino’s visit could include the inauguration of FIFA’s regional office in Rabat, the fifth in Africa and the first in North Africa. The official protocol for launching this infrastructure was signed by Infantino in Marrakech in December 2024.

Currently, FIFA has regional offices across the world, including four in Africa: Dakar (Senegal), Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), Kigali (Rwanda), and Johannesburg (South Africa). The organization also maintains offices in cities such as Paris, Zurich, Dubai, New Delhi, and several others worldwide.

FIFA Tournament Sub-division Director Jaime Yarza previously hailed Morocco’s track record in hosting major sporting events and the country’s passionate football culture. He indicated these were key factors in choosing Morocco to host the next five editions of the U-17 Women’s World Cup.

“We are confident that Morocco will do everything to ensure the success of this event,” Yarza stated, describing Morocco’s infrastructure as “exceptional” and “modern and professional,” adding that “Morocco now has nothing to envy from major European countries.”