Marrakech: For Morocco, the 2030 FIFA World Cup is a driving force for major societal, economic, and environmental transformations, led by a bold and inclusive Royal Vision, Fouad Arif, Director General of Maghreb Arab Press Agency (MAP) and President of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (AMAN), said in Marrakech.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Arif spoke during the opening session of AMAN’s 33rd General Assembly, held under the theme “Football and Media in the Mediterranean: Building Bridges Beyond Borders.” He highlighted that an enlightened Royal Vision now guides the 2030 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
“It is the first time that such a world-scale sporting event will bring together diverse cultures and histories around a common passion: football,” he stated.
Arif emphasized that the Assembly’s theme reflects a belief in football and media’s unique power to unite people, stimulate economies, eliminate boundaries, and foster a more humane Mediterranean region through shared and collective storytelling.
Beyond the sporting event, Arif noted a broader opportunity to strengthen cooperation between news agencies and build an integrated Mediterranean media community, focused on news coverage respectful of diversity and rooted in common ground.
He pointed out that major sporting events convey values and human stories that shape collective memory, beyond mere athletic performance.
The theme sets the stage for operational cooperation in the media community, through content sharing, training, and creating fact-checking networks. Arif expressed pride in the record participation at AMAN’s 33rd General Assembly, which marked the return of Libya, Mauritania, and Syria to the Alliance.
Arif also acknowledged the presence of the Director General of the Senegalese News Agency (APS) and Executive Council member of the Atlantic Federation of African News Agencies (FAAPA). He underlined that his participation in the 2030 World Cup panel symbolizes Mediterranean and Atlantic Africa’s commitment to cooperation.
He asserted that Africa will not only host the global tournament but also be its core, with African media playing a key role.
Arif concluded by stating that the General Assembly aims to be a starting point toward deeper, more creative, and humane cooperation, akin to football’s unpredictable nature yet bearer of shared dreams and unity.
The 33rd AMAN General Assembly, running until Thursday, features thematic panels, debates, cooperation agreements, and an awards ceremony for the best news articles and photos.