FIFA Pressures Casablanca to Finalize 2030 World Cup Host City Agreement

Nabila Rmili, mayor of Casablanca, had received a letter from the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on January 8, granting her the exclusivity to sign the documents relating to Casablanca’s commitments for the co-organization of the 2030 World Cup awarded by FIFA to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, reveals the newspaper Al-Sabah, adding that the clauses of this document called the "host city agreement" will be presented to the permanent committees of the city council for study and approval. The presentation of the organizational requirements is also on the agenda of the February session.

The specifications list FIFA’s requirements in terms of sports and medical infrastructure, accommodation, transportation, fan zone sites. The first is related to the provision of the stadium and training sites. Casablanca is already at work. It is active in the renovation of the Mohammed V sports complex for a financing of 25 million dirhams, and the rehabilitation of several fields in several districts, as training sites, with a financial budget reaching 90 million dirhams. Not to mention the large stadium that will be built in Benslimane by 2028.

To read: Morocco and Spain Vie for 2030 World Cup Final Hosting Rights

FIFA requires:
• Provision of outdoor spaces for the media with particular specifications, including decorating the venue with the commercial brands of the event;
• Setting up a transportation and travel system to the stadiums and other event-related spaces, including a network for car parks;
• High quality in air transport, airports, accommodation and hotels, and the provision of a large number of trained volunteers, while ensuring security, medical services and fire services;
• Organization of a FIFA fan festival;
• Setting up a special cleaning system;
• Spaces for ticket sales.

Other requirements: make available to FIFA a main headquarters with offices for various agencies and other office facilities, which will serve as a command center to oversee all events during the World Cup.