Morocco Outlines Ambitious Economic Plans for 2030 World Cup

During an intervention on Tuesday at the CGEM, Fouzi Lekjaa emphasized the economic benefits of the 2030 World Cup for Morocco. "Football today is no longer just a sport; it is a real economic engine and a business opportunity. The figures speak for themselves: $15 billion in net revenue for FIFA in Qatar, where there were only 32 teams. In 2030, we will have 48 participating teams, twice as many as the World Cups in Spain in 1982 and Mexico in 1986 where there were only 24 teams. This represents 104 matches and 7 weeks of competition. More than 10 million spectators are expected, not to mention the global television audience. In a basin like that of Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the specifics of this World Cup, we expect 15 million," he said.

The government is working to ensure the success of this global sporting event, assured the president of the FRMF, stressing that "the investments are not limited to the cities with the big stadiums like Rabat, Casablanca and Tanger. The specifications include a network of 32 training camps spread across the entire territory, allowing the different teams to train under favorable conditions." Also, the cities that will not host the World Cup matches will not be left behind, Lekjaa said, specifying that the "training camps require an upgrade, with at least two hotels and training stadiums. Each installed team must have two pitches: a main one and a secondary one in case of lawn degradation."

Regarding the upgrading of the infrastructure, the official said that it will take place in two stages. "The first concerns the renovation of the Rabat stadium (Moulay Abdellah) and the large stadium in Tanger, with work that will be completed within two months. The second will begin with the construction of the large Hassan II stadium in Casablanca. After the Africa Cup, we will continue the modernization of the stadiums in Fez, Marrakech and Agadir, while completing the work on the Hassan II stadium in Casablanca, whose completion is scheduled for 2027," he detailed, without forgetting to reassure that the financing of these projects "is completed, and I would like to thank the banking sector."

Fouzi Lekjaa also mentioned other infrastructure projects launched in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, including the high-speed line to Marrakech, "the upgrading of the airports in Tanger, Marrakech and Rabat, as well as the construction of a hub in Casablanca." The president of the FRMF specified that "the logic of a hub is totally different from a classic departure and arrival airport. This project is aligned with the development of Royal Air Maroc, with which the government has signed a contract to increase its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2035." Lekjaa is convinced that "after the 2026 World Cup, Morocco’s name will appear on all the match posters around the world. We will be in the spotlight."