By Kwame Bediako
World’s football governing body, FIFA has officially opened its new Africa headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, further establishing the North African nation as the central hub for the sport’s continental operations. The modern facility, located at the Mohammed VI Complex, is designed to bolster support for African football federations and to enhance FIFA’s role in advancing football development initiatives across the continent.
The inauguration of the Rabat office comes on the heels of a Host Agreement signed last December in Marrakech between FIFA, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). This expansion solidifies Rabat’s place alongside Paris, Miami, and Jakarta as one of FIFA’s global operation centers, underscoring the organization’s aim to maintain a robust presence in every region.
At the launch event, FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the occasion as a milestone in the sport’s history. “Today is certainly a wonderful day, it’s a special day, a glorious day, a joyful day. We will write, in gold letters, the wonderful history of FIFA, of football in Africa, of football in Morocco, of football in the world,” Infantino remarked.
He thanked Morocco and King Mohammed VI for their instrumental role in making the state-of-the-art complex a reality, describing the site as “an incredible and beautiful complex” that reflects the country and continent’s future-focused ambitions. The new Rabat office is set to work closely with FIFA’s other regional offices in Brazzaville, Dakar, Johannesburg and Kigali.
Together, they will coordinate and implement strategies to foster football’s growth at all levels in Africa. The grand opening attracted prominent figures, including FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafstrom, CAF President Patrice Motsepe, CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, FRMF President Fouzi Lekja, and key Moroccan government officials.
Morocco’s selection as the site for FIFA’s Africa hub crowns a period of significant achievement for the nation, which has seen remarkable progress both on and off the pitch. Looking ahead, the country is set to become only the second African nation to host the FIFA World Cup as it prepares to co-host the 2030 edition alongside Portugal and Spain, affirming its pivotal role in the international football community.
