FIFA has officially opened its new Africa Office in Morocco a landmark move that not only reinforces the country’s growing influence in football governance but also cements its place as a continental powerhouse.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Saturday at the sprawling Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, near Rabat, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino presiding over the historic moment.
Describing the event as “a day of celebration and joy,” Infantino hailed the development as a defining milestone in global football administration.
“This will be inscribed in golden letters in the history of FIFA and football in Africa, in Morocco, and across the world,” Infantino declared.
“This is not merely a FIFA Africa Office. It is a global FIFA centre, with a worldwide impact.”
The event was attended by key figures in the football world, including CAF President Patrice Motsepe and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino alongside, CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa. Photo Credit: X
The timing of the launch, coinciding with Morocco’s Throne Day celebrations, added further symbolic weight.
Morocco’s hosting of the FIFA Africa Office follows a string of high-profile achievements on and off the pitch.
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The country is set to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the next five editions of the U-17 Women’s World Cup, and will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
“Morocco has become a reference point,” said CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
“There is no better place to host this office. The leadership of King Mohammed VI has made Morocco a continental leader in football development.”
FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa noted that the Mohammed VI Football Complex represents the execution of a long-term vision rooted in youth development and technical excellence.
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“This Office reflects FIFA’s commitment to African football and the development of all its categories,” Lekjaa said.
Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, near Rabat. Photo Credit: X
“Morocco has always been and will remain a country of tolerance and intercultural dialogue.”
The creation of the Africa Office was first formalised in December 2024 during the CAF Awards in Marrakech, through a headquarters agreement signed by Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, Infantino, and Lekjaa.
With its official opening, the FIFA Africa Office is expected to function as a strategic hub for football innovation, development, and governance not just in Africa, but globally.
From reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to becoming a centre for elite training and continental coordination, Morocco’s stature in the football world has risen dramatically in recent years.
