FIFA to Inaugurate First North African Regional Office in Rabat, with President Infantino in Attendance

Infantino, who arrived in the Kingdom on July 19, was warmly received by Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and a key member of the FIFA Council. The timing of the inauguration coincides with the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024, set to take place later that evening at the Rabat Olympic Stadium—further cementing Morocco’s growing role as a continental football powerhouse.

The decision to establish the regional hub in Morocco is the result of years of sustained commitment, strategic vision, and significant investment driven by the highest authorities of the Kingdom. The project’s foundations were laid in December 2024 in Marrakech during an official ceremony attended by Infantino, Lekjaa, and Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, shortly after the CAF Awards.

Joining FIFA’s existing regional offices in Dakar, Brazzaville, Kigali, and Johannesburg, the new Rabat bureau will serve as a strategic hub for monitoring, supporting, and promoting football across North Africa. It aims to bring FIFA closer to local federations and strengthen efforts toward modernizing infrastructure and professional practices throughout the region.

With this inauguration, FIFA reaffirms its trust-based partnership with Morocco, which is increasingly seen as a central player in the global football ecosystem. The new office opens up promising prospects for future generations of players and football administrators across the continent. Rabat, now more than ever, stands as a new pillar of football excellence.

Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s french text/le7tv