FIFA Opens Africa Office in Morocco

Rabat, Morocco — In a momentous ceremony held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, FIFA President Gianni Infantino officially inaugurated the FIFA Africa Office in Rabat on July 29, 2025.

Marking a new chapter in football’s development across the continent, Infantino hailed the event as “a special day” that will pave the way for FIFA to have a truly global impact on the sport, starting from Africa.

The FIFA Africa Office joins FIFA’s global network of regional hubs, including those in Paris, Miami, and Jakarta, as part of an ambitious strategy to strengthen ties between FIFA and its 211 Member Associations (MAs) worldwide.

Situated at Morocco’s state-of-the-art Mohammed VI Football Complex, the new office is positioned to serve as a dynamic meeting point for FIFA and Africa’s 54 Member Associations, facilitating collaboration, knowledge sharing, and football development projects throughout the continent.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino kicking a ball

Infantino emphasised the significance of the occasion.

“Today is certainly a wonderful day, it’s a special day, a glorious day, a joyful day. We will write, in gold letters, the wonderful history of FIFA, of football in Africa, of football in Morocco, of football in the world.”

He added with conviction:

“From here, we will have a global impact on football. Not only in Morocco, dear Fouzi (Lekjaa), not only in Africa, my dear Patrice (Motsepe), but all over the world, starting from here.”

Honouring Morocco’s Leadership

A highlight of the ceremony was Infantino’s heartfelt tribute to King Mohammed VI of Morocco for his unwavering support of football and the momentum he has created. Morocco’s recent rise as a football powerhouse is reflected in the cutting-edge facilities of the football complex and the nation’s achievements on the pitch.

“We are a few days from Throne Day, a day that celebrates His Majesty’s 26th anniversary, and this momentum that he is building with all the people from Morocco, and of course, the federation led by my brother Fouzi Lekjaa here in Morocco to develop football and this unique complex,” Infantino noted.

He described the Mohammed VI Football Complex as more than just a sports facility.

“It is the nerve centre of Moroccan and African football and, as of today, of world football. It is witness to a country that is projected into the future, to a continent that is projected into the future, and to the work that all of us do here for this incredible sport.”

Local and Continental Football Leaders Unite

Joining Infantino were key figures from FIFA and African football, including FIFA Vice President and Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, and representatives of FIFA’s Member Associations Division. The event gathered multiple African Member Association representatives, underscoring the continent-wide stake in the new institution.

Motsepe captured the historic significance of the launch.

“It’s a very special and very historic day, but it’s a special day for FIFA. Africa is FIFA. The rest of the world is FIFA. And we couldn’t have found a better place for the FIFA headquarters to be.”

Lekjaa elaborated on the collaborative vision ahead.

“We warmly welcome this collaboration aimed at enhancing the development of the African continent and its diverse age groups. This collaboration also aims to develop international football across many countries.”

Morocco’s Footballing Ascendancy

Morocco’s football trajectory exemplifies the continent’s growing influence in the global game. The men’s national team made history by becoming the first African side to reach the FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals in 2022.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Morocco secured bronze in men’s football, a remarkable achievement at thecontinental and global levels.

The women’s national team is also making waves, reaching the round of 16 in their FIFA Women’s World Cup™ debut in 2023 and contesting their second CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final just hours after the office’s opening ceremony.

Moreover, Morocco is increasingly becoming a hub for major football events:

It hosted the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations recently and is set to host it again.
Morocco will host five successive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups, starting this year.
The country will stage the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in December 2025.
In a historic first for Africa, Morocco will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup™ alongside Portugal and Spain, marking the centenary tournament of world football’s flagship event.

Vision and Commitment to the Future

In his closing remarks, Infantino reasserted the office’s mission to unite football across Africa and beyond.

“We are uniting the world here in Morocco. It will be the centenary FIFA World Cup, an incredible celebration in 2030. And here, everything is in place to make sure this celebration is the most beautiful we’ve ever seen. But to do that, of course, we have to work. We all have to work together, and I know that you are part of our team. You’re all part of our team, you’re all part of the FIFA team, you’re all part of the winning team.”

He concluded with a powerful message of unity and inclusion.

“Because together, we don’t just organise football, we don’t just play football – men’s, women’s, futsal, beach soccer but we unite. We unite Africa, we unite the world,” he said.

The opening of the FIFA Africa Office in Rabat is a landmark moment not only for Moroccan football but for the entire African continent and the global game.

Serving as a vibrant hub for collaboration between FIFA and Africa’s football associations, the office is positioned to accelerate development, amplify Africa’s voice in world football, and foster deep connections that ensure the continent’s rich football heritage culminates in lasting global impact.

As Africa prepares to showcase its capabilities on the world stage, culminating in hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup™, the Rabat hub stands as a beacon of football’s unity, hope, and evolution.