Football in Africa reached another milestone as FIFA officially opened its Africa Office in Morocco, setting up headquarters at the state-of-the-art Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.
The new hub is designed to bring FIFA closer to its African Member Associations and joins other regional offices in Paris, Miami, and Jakarta, reinforcing the governing body’s strategy of strengthening local links while pushing for global growth.
The launch follows a Host Agreement signed in December 2023 between FIFA, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), underlining the North African nation’s growing role in the game’s development.
At the opening ceremony, FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the move as a landmark for African football:
“Today is a joyful and glorious day for FIFA, for Africa, and for Morocco. This project is a testament to our shared vision for a stronger future for football on the continent.
Infantino also thanked His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan government for their commitment in bringing the project to life.
Morocco’s Rise on the Global Stage
The decision to base FIFA’s African operations in Morocco reflects the country’s rising prominence in the football world. Morocco has poured resources into infrastructure and talent development, achievements crowned by the men’s national team’s historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup — the first African and Arab nation to do so.
The momentum continues, with Morocco preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. That will make the kingdom only the second African nation, after South Africa in 2010, to stage the world’s biggest sporting event.
A Star-Studded Ceremony
The ribbon-cutting was attended by some of the most powerful figures in global and African football, including CAF President Patrice Motsepe, CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, and FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa, alongside Moroccan government officials and international dignitaries.
The opening of the FIFA Africa Office is being seen not only as a win for Morocco but as a huge boost for football across the continent — a hub that promises to accelerate development, improve governance, and bring African football closer to the global stage.
