Retrospective 2023: Morocco’s Football World Cup Dream Becomes Reality!

Morocco’s football fairytale continues to inspire and impress the world which has recognized the major strides accomplished by the country in the field of sports under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

In early October 2023, the success-story of the North African Kingdom was crowned with the announcement made by the Monarch to the Moroccan people that the FIFA Executive Council has unanimously selected the Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid as the sole candidacy for hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The historic royal announcement will remain engraved in the collective memory of Moroccans. Thanks to the farsighted guidance of the King, who has made sport in general and football in particular a priority, Morocco is reaping the rewards of its perseverance and hard work after previous unsuccessful bids.

The FIFA decision recognizes the country’s rising status in the world of football. Morocco becomes thus the first country in North Africa region to host a World Cup. It marks a historic moment for African football and builds on Morocco’s stunning world cup performance in Qatar after becoming the first African and Arab team to reach a World Cup semi-final.

The North African Kingdom is investing heavily to upgrade its stadium infrastructure in cities like Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier in preparation for hosting the World cup matches.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Morocco’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal is “a message of peace, tolerance, and inclusion”.

“Two continents – Africa and Europe – united not only in a celebration of football but also in providing unique social and cultural cohesion. What a great message of peace, tolerance, and inclusion,” underlined chief of the World football governing body.

According to the FIFA, Morocco’s football rise was “no accident.” It is the result of years of hard work, meticulous planning, and implementation of the royal strategy.

All these combined efforts have led the Moroccan men’s national football team to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the women’s national team advance to the round of 16 at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Moroccan U-17s also reached the last 16 at the recent FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the U-23s won this year’s U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games in the process.

Few days after gaining the World cup bid, Morocco has been chosen to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations. These mega sports events are golden opportunities for the country to leverage its “nation branding” besides the expected huge economic gains and job openings.

The hosting of the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup has brought immense joy to Moroccans and strengthened their sense of belonging to a rising regional power.

After going through difficult times following the devastating earthquake that rocked several regions of the country and generated an outpouring solidarity lauded worldwide, Moroccans are now looking forward to celebrating with the Atlas Lions new dreams as they proved that they can make the impossible possible!