FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) celebrated the official opening of the FIFA Africa Office in Rabat on Saturday, July 26.

The inauguration, held at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, marks a new chapter in FIFA’s efforts to strengthen its ties with the continent and foster football development across Africa.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stressed the importance of this new hub, stating it would “have a global impact on football.”

The office joins similar FIFA centers located in Paris, Miami, and Jakarta, as part of the organization’s strategy to deepen connections with its 211 member associations worldwide. The Rabat facility aims to serve as a space where FIFA can collaborate directly with its 54 African member associations, helping to advance key projects and initiatives tailored to the continent’s football growth.

The project was initially announced in December 2024, when Infantino, Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, and FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa signed the agreement to establish the office. With its strategic location in Rabat, the facility is expected to become a nerve center for African football.

During the opening ceremony, Infantino praised the country’s progress, highlighting Morocco’s recent achievements.

“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,” said the FIFA President

Infantino also expressed gratitude to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for his unwavering support, noting Morocco’s remarkable progress in the sport. 

“This sporting centre is a lot more than just a sporting centre, a lot more than an academy. It is the nerve centre of Moroccan and African football and, as of today, of world football. It is witness to a country that is projected into the future, to a continent that is projected into the future, and to the work that all of us do here for this incredible sport,” he said.

The event was attended by several notable figures, including FIFA Secretary General Matthias Grafström and representatives from various FIFA member associations. CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Mr. Lekjaa also played prominent roles, emphasizing the significance of the new office.

“It’s a very special and very historic day, but it’s a special day for FIFA. Africa is FIFA. The rest of the world is FIFA. And we couldn’t have found a better place for the FIFA headquarters to be,” Mr Motsepe said.

Mr. Lekjaa highlighted the collaborative spirit behind the project, underscoring its goal to enhance football development across diverse regions of Africa. 

Morocco’s recent football successes underscore the country’s rising stature on the world stage. The nation’s men’s team made history as the first African nation to reach the FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals in 2022 and recently secured the bronze medal at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024. The women’s team also continues to shine, debuting at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and reaching the Round of 16, with their sights set on the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Nigeria.

Morocco will also host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for five consecutive years starting this year and is set to host the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in December 2025. Looking ahead, Morocco will be a key player in the historic 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Portugal and Spain to mark football’s centenary.