Morocco is turning the 2030 World Cup into a powerful tool for development and international influence. But a German report takes a much more critical view of this strategy, arguing that major projects and sports infrastructure sometimes compete with more urgent social needs.
Morocco and Algeria meet this Saturday in Rabat to play for the bronze medal at the Women’s AFCON. In the Algerian press, this second confrontation in just over two weeks is seen as an opportunity to bring a historic campaign to an end and, for some, to take revenge on the Atlas Lionesses.
Nayef Aguerd was very close to returning to Real Sociedad. OM and the Spanish club had reached an agreement, the Moroccan had undergone his medical examination and the deal could have reached 19 million euros. Then everything collapsed.
With Achraf Hakimi, Walid Regragui could speak Spanish. With Hakim Ziyech, English. But as soon as he brought the Atlas Lions together , another rule applied: Darija became the common language.
As Gianni Infantino faces one of the most serious crises of his presidency at FIFA , Morocco has now clearly taken a position. Fouzi Lekjaa has joined five other Arab football officials in offering his “full support” to the head of world football.
Xavi has not yet assembled his staff in the Netherlands, but the presence of players of Moroccan origin among the Oranje is already part of the debate. It is notably being invoked to support Patrick Kluivert’s candidacy as assistant.
Faten wanted to reach Europe. On July 30, this 26-year-old Moroccan woman died while attempting to swim to Ceuta. That same morning, her mother learned that her visa for Spain had been approved.
Expected to leave in recent days, Hakim Ziyech should ultimately continue his spell at Wydad. The player wanted to stay, and the trend is now moving toward a one-season extension.
In Morocco, a setback becomes a doubt about 2030. A success becomes a threat to Spain. For several months, the same pattern has kept resurfacing in part of the Spanish debate, almost always with the same destination: the World Cup final.
As Wydad reportedly seek a way to part ways with Hakim Ziyech this summer in order to reduce their wage bill, the Moroccan player has no intention of leaving. At 33, he intends to honor the contract that still binds him to the club for one season .
Léon Debbouze, 17, wants to make football his profession. After a season with the PSG association’s U18 team, Jamel Debbouze’s son has just had a trial with Angers’ under-19 team, watched by his father.
FC Barcelona has definitively withdrawn from its friendly match scheduled for 15 August in Tangier. The Catalan club is giving up an estimated 4.5 million euros in revenue, preferring not to take any risks with its team.