Morocco roll up sleeves for FIFA 2030 show

Article posted by Coliseum, November 1^st, 2023

Image: Azadi Stadium, Maometto97, CC BY-SA 4.0

Morocco plans to build a large stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, and upgrade six others in preparation for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, the Prime Minister’s Office said recently.

‘REUTERS’ stated that a deal was signed in this regard between the Government and the State-owned Deposit and Management Fund (CDG) to finance the new stadium to be ready by 2028 for a total cost of 5 billion dirhams ($500 million), the office said in a statement.

The 2030 FIFA World Cup™ will be the 24^th FIFA World Cup™, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men’s national teams of the member-associations of FIFA. The 2030 World Cup will mark the centennial World Cup competition. For the first time, three countries from two continents will host the competition, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco as the host nations. Additionally, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will serve as the nations that open the event as a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup in Uruguay. This will be the first World Cup held in Africa since 2010, in South America since 2014 as well as in Europe since 2018.

The Caisse de dépot et de gestion (Deposit and Management Fund, shortened as CDG) is a State-owned financial institution which manages long-term savings in Morocco. Given its substantial assets it also acts as a large investor in the country, especially in the tourism sector.

‘REUTERS’ further stated that the six stadiums to be renovated to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2025 and the 2030 World Cup – are in the Cities of Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier.

The Africa Cup of Nations, sometimes referred to as the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, or simply AFCON or CAN, is the main international men’s association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was first held in 1957.

6^th of October City, Egypt-based the Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for association football, beach soccer and futsal in Africa.

In October, the FIFA allocated the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Spain and Portugal but also said Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay would host three matches to mark the tournament’s centenary.

Morocco will be the second African country to host the World Cup after South Africa in 2010.

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