Rabat – Saba:
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) officially opened its regional headquarters for Africa in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, late on Saturday evening.
The Moroccan Football Federation stated in a release: "The regional headquarters of FIFA in Africa has been inaugurated in Rabat."
The inauguration ceremony was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa.
In his address, Infantino emphasized that the regional office in Morocco will serve as a vital hub for supporting Africa's 54 football associations.
He expressed optimism that Morocco will become a key center for global football, especially with major upcoming events, including:
- The 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (October 17 – November 8, hosted by Morocco).
- The 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup (jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal).
- The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals later this year.
In December 2023, Morocco and FIFA signed an agreement to establish the regional headquarters in Rabat, reinforcing the country's growing role in international football development.