FIFA President Gianni Infantino has officially opened the FIFA Africa Office in Rabat, Morocco, describing it as a major step with global implications for the growth of football. The ceremony, held at the prestigious Mohammed VI Football Complex in the Moroccan capital, was attended by high-level dignitaries and football officials from across the continent.
“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,” Infantino said during the event. “From here, we will have a global impact on football. Not only in Morocco dear Fouzi, not only in Africa, my dear Patrice, but all over the world, starting from here.”
The FIFA Africa Office is the latest in a series of global hubs established by football’s world governing body to foster deeper connections with its 211 Member Associations. Similar regional offices already operate in Paris, Miami, and Jakarta. This latest addition reflects FIFA’s commitment to more localized engagement and development, especially across Africa’s 54 football associations.
The decision to establish the Africa office was first made public in December 2024, following an agreement signed by Mr Infantino, Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, and Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President and FIFA Council member Fouzi Lekjaa. The facility will serve as a meeting point for FIFA and African football stakeholders to design and execute development strategies and drive the game forward.
“This sporting centre is a lot more than just a sporting centre, a lot more than an academy. 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,” Infantino added.
Infantino took time to express gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco for his dedicated support for football development in the country. “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,” he said.
Joining him for the ceremony were FIFA Vice President and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, and several representatives from FIFA’s Member Associations Division and African football federations.
“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,” Mr Motsepe said.
Mr Lekjaa added, “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 selection as the home of FIFA’s Africa Office is in line with the country’s rise as a major force in world football. The Moroccan men’s national team made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals. They followed it up with a bronze medal at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024.
The women’s national team also broke new ground by reaching the round of 16 in their debut FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance in 2023 and are preparing for another CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final just hours after the FIFA office launch.
Looking ahead, Morocco will host five consecutive editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup starting this year, the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in December 2025, and co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030 with Portugal and Spain. It will be only the second time Africa hosts the men’s World Cup, marking a centennial celebration of the tournament.
“We are uniting the world here in Morocco,” Infantino concluded. “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. 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.”
