Rabat: FIFA inaugurated a new regional office near Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday marking its first permanent presence in North Africa, just five years before Morocco co-hosts the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared the day a milestone inscribed in golden letters in the history of FIFA's engagement with Africa, Morocco, and the global football community.

This newly launched office, located near Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora, will serve as a key operational hub for the 2030 tournament, Infantino said.

The opening ceremony was attended by President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and FIFA Council Member, Fouzi Lekjaa.

Their presence underscored the strategic weight of the new office, which comes just hours ahead of the 2025 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, where Morocco faces Nigeria in a high-stakes clash.

With this development, Morocco becomes only the second African nation to host a FIFA World Cup, after South Africa's landmark tournament in 2010, following five previous unsuccessful bids.

FIFA currently operates several regional offices across the globe, including four in Africa: Dakar (Senegal), Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), Kigali (Rwanda), and Johannesburg (South Africa).

The Rabat facility now expands this network, reinforcing the organization's footprint on the continent ahead of what is widely seen as a pivotal decade for African football.

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