In a landmark step toward the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has officially opened its first regional office in North Africa. Located in the city of Salé, just outside Morocco’s capital Rabat, the new hub is poised to play a pivotal role in the planning and coordination of the upcoming tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the state-of-the-art Mohammed VI Football Complex and was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, and Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The event marked a significant moment in FIFA’s efforts to strengthen its presence on the African continent.
Calling it a “historic day,” Infantino highlighted the symbolic and practical importance of the new office. “This is a day that will be written in golden letters in the history of FIFA, African football, Moroccan football, and world football,” he said. “This office will serve as a cornerstone in our preparations for the 2030 World Cup and will help further elevate the global impact of football from Africa.”
The opening of the Rabat office follows an agreement signed in December 2024 between FIFA, the Moroccan government, and the national football federation. It becomes FIFA’s fifth regional office in Africa, joining locations in Dakar, Kigali, Brazzaville, and Johannesburg. The Rabat office is expected to operate as a key coordination center for World Cup logistics, legacy projects, and the broader development of football in the region.
The timing of the inauguration was particularly symbolic, taking place just hours before the final match of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, where Morocco’s national team was set to face Nigeria. The parallel between continental competition and global ambitions underscored Morocco’s growing role in the international football landscape.
During the ceremony, Infantino expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI for his continued support of football development in the country. CAF President Motsepe praised Morocco’s infrastructure and organizational leadership, describing the kingdom as a “model for the continent.” Fouzi Lekjaa reiterated Morocco’s commitment to hosting a memorable and unifying edition of the 2030 tournament, promising that the new office would serve as a long-term base for FIFA’s operations in the region.
The new regional office reflects FIFA’s broader strategy of decentralization and its ambition to foster deeper collaboration with local football bodies. With the countdown to 2030 underway, Rabat is set to become a central player in delivering a World Cup that spans three continents and celebrates global unity through sport.
