FIFA has opened a new Africa office in Rabat as the continent’s Hub ahead of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes the new office will “have a global impact on football”.
The Africa office joins other regional hubs in Paris, France; Miami, United States; and Jakarta, Indonesia, all part of FIFA’s efforts to strengthen local connections with its 211 Member Associations worldwide and foster the growth of football globally.
Located at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, the office was initially announced in December 2024. Infantino was recently joined by Morocco’s Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, and Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and FIFA Council member, to sign the agreement establishing the office.
It will now offer a dedicated space for FIFA and its 54 African Member Associations to convene and discuss current and future development initiatives. It is expected to foster stronger ties between the global governing body of football and those committed to advancing the sport across their countries and throughout the continent.
WHAT GIANNI INFANTINO SAID ABOUT FIFA AFRICA OFFICE
“From this place, with this centre that brings together not only the administration but also the sporting side, we will be able to organise many events in Morocco, who are also the host of the [FIFA] U-17 Women’s World Cup for the next five years. And that too will leave a mark not only on Morocco and Africa but on the whole world. We are uniting the world here in Morocco. And from this moment on, of course, we will also organise the [FIFA] 2030 World Cup. The second [FIFA] World Cup in Africa – co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal,” Infantino said.
The country will also host AFCON 2025, which kicks off in December. Morocco will then become only the second African country to host a FIFA World Cup when it jointly stages the centenary tournament of men’s football’s global showpiece in 2030.
Infantino added: “It will be the centenary [FIFA] World Cup. An incredible celebration in 2030. And here, everything is in place to make sure this celebration is the most beautiful we’ve ever seen.
But to do that, of course, we have to work. We all have to work together, and I know that you are part of our team. You’re all part of our team, you’re all part of the FIFA team, you’re all part of the winning team. Because together, we don’t just organise football, we don’t just play football – men’s, women’s, futsal, beach soccer – but we unite.
“We unite Africa, we unite the world. We bring happiness to people, we bring joy to people, we bring smiles to people. And this is what makes the difference between what all of you here are doing and what everyone else is doing. It’s this joy, it’s this happiness.”
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