Rabat: Morocco is making significant strides in embedding football into its public strategies, as evidenced by the country’s ambitious investments in sports infrastructure.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the recent performance of Moroccan players like Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi during the 2022 Qatar World Cup has highlighted Morocco’s commitment to integrating football into national policies.
The renowned outlet, quipe, in an article titled ‘Ahead of the 2030 World Cup, Morocco Pulls Out All Stops to Enhance Infrastructure,’ delves into the country’s efforts to boost its footballing landscape. Central to this initiative is the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Sal©, inaugurated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2019. This state-of-the-art facility, spread over 35 hectares near the MSmora Forest, represents a nearly £60 million investment, with expectations of becoming profitable within six years, as noted by Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
Lekjaa outlined that the establishment of the complex has streamlined operations for all 25 national teams, including futsal and beach soccer, significantly cutting down on accommodation and transportation costs. The center serves as a venue for a wide array of events, from referee academy classes and federation training seminars to CAF meetings and the African Ballon d’Or ceremony. The article further mentions that several FIFA departments are expected to be based at the complex, alongside the future national football museum.
The Mohammed VI Football Complex boasts eleven football pitches, five hotels with large rooms, a mosque, an Olympic swimming pool, and a modern medical center. Additionally, quipe reported on the ongoing renovations at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier. Originally opened in 2011, the stadium is being upgraded to meet FIFA standards for the 2030 World Cup, increasing its capacity to 62,544 seats, adding luxury boxes, and enhancing overall facilities.
As part of the renovation, 1,200 workers have installed a 55,000 m² metal roof structure, which is considered the second-largest in the world after the Maracan. Morocco has allocated over £340 million for the stadium’s enhancements. quipe describes the stadium’s calming ocean blue and soft white seats, expansive corridors, and skyboxes offering panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
In preparation for the 2030 World Cup, Morocco will host two major trial events: the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations from July 5 to 26 and the Men’s edition from December 21 to January 18. These efforts reflect Morocco’s substantial investments in its sports sector in recent years.