Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani: At the 2030 World Cup, Morocco has “a beautiful story to tell, that of a country moving forward”

Mr. Amrani delivered these remarks during a conference held by the Atlantic Council under the theme “Beyond the tournament: the new frontiers of sports diplomacy”, one day before the draw for the 2026 World Cup. He underlined that major global sporting events such as the 2030 tournament “naturally find their place in a Morocco that is open to the world, rooted in its history and confident in its ability to turn its potential into drivers of inclusive development”.

He noted that Morocco is not only prepared to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup in optimal conditions. The country also has the tools to turn these events into genuine engines of diplomacy, platforms for cooperation and catalysts for progress that will benefit Morocco, Africa and the international community. The panel also included several figures involved in sports diplomacy, among them the FIFA vice president and CONCACAF president, Victor Montagliani.

Mr. Amrani stressed that Morocco’s joint organization of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal represents “the crowning achievement of an ambitious strategy pursued for more than two decades thanks to the Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI”.

He added that this first World Cup in history to be hosted across two continents reflects Morocco’s longstanding role as a bridge, a welcoming land and a respected partner, elements that reinforce the standing of a Kingdom whose credibility is recognized and firmly established.

The ambassador also pointed to the economic impact expected from the tournament, including job creation, stronger growth and an additional boost to tourism, which has already reached record levels with 18 million visitors as of November 2025.

Reflecting on the achievements of the Atlas Lions and the U-20 national team, Mr. Amrani recalled that Morocco broke the glass ceiling of African football by becoming the first team from the continent to reach the World Cup semifinals, noting that “this is only the beginning”. He highlighted the decisive contribution of the Mohammed VI Football Academy, which has played a central role in nurturing a generation of talented players and laying the foundations for Morocco’s recent success.

According to the ambassador, these results are the outcome of long-term work and sustained investment in the football ecosystem. “The best is yet to come”, he said, citing the rapid progress of Morocco’s national teams and its broader sporting infrastructure.

Mr. Amrani concluded by emphasizing the power of football as a tool of soft diplomacy. Hosting the 2030 World Cup, he said, will allow Morocco to build new partnerships across a wide range of sectors, with significant benefits for the country’s social and economic development.

Editorial team/le7tv