Hosting the Africa Cup of Nations from Sunday represents another landmark moment in Morocco’s long-term plan to establish itself among the world’s leading football nations. The tournament also serves as a practical test ahead of the country’s role as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup.
Hosting the Africa Cup of Nations from Sunday represents another landmark moment in Morocco’s long-term plan to establish itself among the world’s leading football nations. The tournament also serves as a practical test ahead of the country’s role as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup.
Only three years after their historic run to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, the North African hosts welcome 24 teams and supporters from across the continent. Matches will be played in nine newly built or upgraded venues spread across six urban centers.
Although this is just the second occasion Morocco has staged the continental championship, it follows a period in which the country has regularly provided stadiums for other African nations’ World Cup qualifiers. It also comes after Morocco secured the rights to host five consecutive Under-17 Women’s World Cups and staged the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Government and football officials have described this edition of the Africa Cup as a high-profile trial run for the World Cup in 2030. That tournament will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay each staging a single match.
Central to Morocco’s World Cup vision is the planned Hassan II Stadium, expected to hold 115,000 spectators once completed in 2028. The venue is projected to become the largest football stadium anywhere in the world, and authorities hope it will be chosen to stage the final.
The stadium forms part of one of the most extensive sports infrastructure programs ever undertaken on the African continent. Alongside new arenas, Morocco has upgraded airports, extended high-speed rail connections, and invested heavily in tourism facilities in cities such as Marrakech and Tangier.
Development has not been limited to physical infrastructure. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has expanded spending on youth systems and coach education, including the construction of the Mohammed VI Football Complex near Rabat, which is serving as the national team’s base during the tournament.
Access to modern training environments has been prioritized for emerging talents, a strategy already producing results. Morocco’s semifinal appearance at the 2022 World Cup marked the first time an African or Arab team reached that stage, and the country lifted the Under-20 World Cup trophy in October.
Football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has repeatedly stressed that these goals are realistic rather than aspirational. Speaking to French sports daily L’Equipe in July, he said Morocco’s plans are rooted in concrete objectives, not fantasy.
Lekjaa, who also holds responsibility for budget oversight within the prime minister’s cabinet, views sport as a catalyst for broader economic progress. However, this approach has triggered domestic criticism.
Public debate has intensified over whether resources are being distributed fairly. While visitors encounter modern hotels, restaurants, and transport links, many rural areas continue to struggle with limited access to healthcare, education, and jobs.
During nationwide protests earlier this year, demonstrators drew attention to the contrast by chanting slogans questioning the focus on stadiums while hospitals remain underfunded.
The Africa Cup also unfolds as Morocco seeks to reinforce its standing as a regional hub. Through its so-called “Atlantic Initiative,” the kingdom has strengthened links with landlocked states in West and Central Africa, expanding banking and telecommunications operations and offering access to recently constructed ports.
On the diplomatic front, Morocco’s decision to normalize relations with Israel has deepened ties with the United States. It has also received support from most European Union members regarding its claim over Western Sahara.
For the tournament, Morocco has issued tourist visas to visiting supporters, despite having tightened entry rules for some participating nations in recent years. Visa requirements for Ivorians, for example, were reintroduced last year, partly to address irregular migration.
Geographically, Morocco has long been perceived as a gateway to Europe, sharing land borders with the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and lying close to the Canary Islands. Migration policies have drawn criticism from rights organizations, particularly over camp clearances and relocations away from northern borders.
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights’ Rabat branch reported an increase in arrests and forced removals of migrants in the days leading up to the tournament. The competition concludes on Jan. 18 with the final at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which reopened in September.
