Morocco to Host First-Ever African Futsal World Cup in 2024

After nine World Cups since 1989, Morocco is preparing to host the tenth edition of the Futsal World Cup in 2024. FIFA has firmly committed to the kingdom to host the event, which is being held for the first time in Africa, 35 years after its launch in 1989. Since then, the Futsal World Cup has been played three times in Europe (Netherlands, Spain and Lithuania), in Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand) and in America (Guatemala, Brazil and Colombia), reports Relevo.

The last edition, organized in Lithuania, was won by Portugal. Morocco, for its part, was eliminated in the quarter-finals against Brazil (1-0), after correcting the Solomon Islands (6-0) and winning its match against Venezuela (3-2). Initially scheduled to be held in 2020, the competition was finally held in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, reducing the World Cup cycle from four to three years. This change also led to the delay observed by FIFA in the choice of the country that was to host the next Futsal World Cup.

During an event that brought together the African federations in Paris on February 7 and 8, Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary General, cited the example of Morocco as "the culmination of long-term work carried out by a president concerned with the development of football, his country and his continent." In the same vein, FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the efforts of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and its president Fouzi Lekjaa, also a member of the FIFA Council.

The FRMF is the only one to have confirmed its candidacy for the organization of the 2024 futsal world cup to FIFA. No news from the Football Federations of India, Iran, Mexico, Guatemala or the United States, also potential candidates. FIFA could officially announce Morocco’s choice in the coming weeks. The kingdom has infrastructure up to standard like the Mohammed V sports complex in Casablanca, with a capacity of 15,000 seats, the Moulay Abdellah sports complex in Rabat, with a capacity of 10,000 seats, and the Olympique Arena in Tangier (5,000 seats).