After an exceptional performance at the 2022 Qatar World Cup with the national team ranking fourth, the Kingdom was able to obtain the organization of the 2030 World Cup. Both events are the result of a thoughtful policy and above all a royal vision. Lighting. In December 2022, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, received at the Throne Room at the Royal Palace in Rabat, the members of the national football team, after their brilliant performance at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This audience reflects the high concern with which His Majesty the King has never ceased to surround young people and the particular interest that the Sovereign places in the sports sector in general and in football in particular. It follows the historic and unprecedented feat achieved by the national team which was able to reach the semi-finals, the first and most resounding success of its kind in Moroccan, Arab and African football, during the final stages of this global sporting event. During this audience, the Sovereign decorated the technical staff and members of the national team. A few months later, “His Majesty King Mohammed VI had the great pleasure of announcing to the Moroccan people that the FIFA Executive Committee has just unanimously selected the Morocco-Spain-Portugal file as the sole candidacy for the organization of the 2030 Football World Cup. This decision by the Executive Committee of the International Football Federation welcomes and recognizes Morocco’s place of choice in the concert of great nations. His Majesty the King addresses, on this occasion, His congratulations to the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Portugal, while reiterating the commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to work in perfect synergy with the authorities in charge of the file in each of the host countries. His Majesty King Mohammed VI received a few months later, at the Royal Palace in Rabat, Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate in charge of the budget, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), whom the Sovereign appointed president of the “2030 World Cup Committee”. This appointment comes following the vote of the FIFA Council which unanimously retained the Morocco-Spain-Portugal file as the sole candidacy for the organization of the 2030 Football World Cup. On this occasion, His Majesty the King expressed the wish and desire that the organization of this global competition be driven by a strong ambition driven by a project that could make this edition a great success.” Morocco’s organization of the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal, is the crowning achievement of a strategic development vision led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI for more than two decades, said Fouzi Lekjaa. The announcement by the Sovereign to Moroccans of the news of the organization of the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal, was a historic moment welcomed with joy and happiness by all the Moroccan people, indicated Mr. Lekjaa in a statement to the press at the end of the audience that HM the King granted him at the Royal Palace in Rabat. “Today, we are called to redouble our efforts and move forward to achieve the best World Cup that history has ever known”, as HM the King affirmed in His message on the occasion of the presentation in Kigali (Rwanda) to the Sovereign of the CAF Excellence Prize for the year 2022. “We are all determined to translate this Royal ambition of making this global competition a great success”, underlined Mr. Lekjaa. The Football Federations of Morocco, Portugal and Spain officially signed the bid agreement for the organization of the 2030 FIFA World Cup in November 2023. The signing of the bid agreement is a commitment by the three Football Federations to respect the rules and framework governing the bid process, indicates the Royal Moroccan Football Federation in a press release published on its website, noting that the document also offers guidance on key technical aspects of the bid, such as its promotion and evaluation criteria. “The Moroccan, Portuguese and Spanish Football Federations will now work more closely than ever to develop a bid that will enable the FIFA World Cup to exceed all expectations,” specifies the FRMF, adding that “by sharing their vision and outlook for the tournament last month, the Federations expressed their intention to deliver a tournament that strengthens the legacy of the FIFA World Cup, develops football and will have a significant impact around the world.” With the 2030 FIFA World Cup marking the centenary of the first edition of the tournament, the same source continues, “particular efforts will be made to ensure that the tournament serves as a model for the next 100 years”. “This includes host countries showcasing their unique cultures to foster collaboration between Europe, Africa and the rest of the world, while ensuring that the event is sustainable, friendly and inclusive for supporters of all ages and backgrounds,” the press release said. The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation stressed that “thanks to the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, football in Morocco is developing like never before, from the grassroots to our national teams.” “Joining forces with Portugal and Spain to create a revolutionary FIFA World Cup that will forever mark the history of world football. Together, we will write history. The first transcontinental FIFA Men’s World Cup. The first to be organized in two continents and three countries. And only the second on the entire African continent. Our impact can be phenomenal because our 2030 World Cup will be a footballing event that will mark a new turning point,” said Mr. Lekjaa.
