The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA – Africa branch), inaugurated this Saturday in Rabat its first regional Africa office, in the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, President of the Confederation of African Football Patrice Motsepe, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa, along with several senior sports officials from Africa and beyond.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, CAF president Patrice Motsepe and CAF vice-president and Moroccan FA president Fouzi Lekjaa officially opened the first African office of the world football governing body in Rabat today. 🔓
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The new FIFA Africa Office is located in the Mohammed VI Football Complex in the city of Salé, adjacent to the FRMF headquarters. Rabat’s hosting of the new FIFA regional office, the first of its kind on the African continent, reflects international trust in Morocco’s position and its pioneering role as a strategic actor in advancing football in the continent.
“This is a historic moment, a festive and joyful day that will be engraved in golden letters in the history of FIFA and football in Africa, in Morocco, and around the world,” said Gianni Infantino in an address during the inauguration ceremony.
He noted that “the inauguration of the FIFA Africa office comes at a perfect time as it coincides with the celebrations of the glorious Throne Day,” adding that the Mohammed VI Football Complex is “an incredible and magnificent facility.”
“I thank His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the momentum given to the development of sport on the continent,” Infantino added, emphasizing that the Royal impetus for football development is “unique.”
Infantino further stated that the Mohammed VI Complex, which hosts the new FIFA Africa office, has become a nerve center for African football and a symbol of a country and continent looking toward the future.
“What we are inaugurating today is not just a FIFA Africa office. It is rather a global FIFA center, as it will have a worldwide impact on the game,” he said.
The FIFA president also recalled that Morocco is set to host several major sporting events, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the next five editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Spain and Portugal. “The world will unite here in Morocco,” he said.
He also highlighted that Saturday evening’s final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Nigeria in Rabat would be “a great and beautiful celebration” of women’s football in Morocco and Africa, noting that the Moroccan public’s enthusiasm for football is unique worldwide.
CAF President Motsepe welcomed the inauguration of FIFA’s Africa office in Morocco, stating that “there could not be a better place to establish this office.”
He expressed his gratitude to King Mohammed VI for his ongoing efforts in support of football on the continent, noting that African football is of global standard.
Recalling the performance of African teams at the last World Cup in Qatar, particularly Morocco’s historic semi-final run, Motsepe said he is confident that African football will dominate the global stage in the years to come.
FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa underlined that the Mohammed VI Complex, which now hosts the FIFA Africa office, was realized thanks to the enlightened Vision of HM King Mohammed VI, describing it as the result of a strategy aimed at fostering the development of Moroccan and African youth.
“This Vision aspires to make Morocco a land of welcome and convergence for talent from all corners of the world,” he said.
According to Lekjaa, the establishment of the office reflects FIFA’s interest in African football and the development of all its categories, recalling that Morocco has always been and will remain a land of tolerance and dialogue between civilizations.
The FRMF President expressed his gratitude to Infantino and Patrice Motsepe for their continuous support, stressing that the opening of this office “reflects the ongoing commitment to African football and represents an opportunity for joint efforts to develop all categories and elevate the game at all levels.”
Lekjaa also stressed that Morocco will continue to be a nurturing ground for the African continent, saying: “Morocco has been and will remain your second home. We will continue working together for comprehensive development, which naturally includes advancing football for boys and girls, in line with the values of openness and tolerance.”
This project further strengthens Morocco’s position as a regional hub for African football and aligns with the country’s ongoing preparations to co-host several matches of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
The headquarters agreement for the FIFA Africa office in Morocco was signed last December in Marrakech on the sidelines of the 2024 CAF Awards ceremony by Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and FRMF President, Fouzi Lekjaa.
