FIFA officially opened its Africa office this past Saturday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, marking a significant milestone for African football. The inauguration ceremony drew high-level figures from the world of sports, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CAF President Patrice Motsepe, Royal Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa, and other prominent officials.
The event coincided with Morocco’s national Throne Day celebrations, a moment Infantino used to express his gratitude to King Mohammed VI. He praised the monarch’s deep commitment to sports development across the African continent and called the newly inaugurated complex nothing short of exceptional. More than just a regional hub, Infantino described the site as a strategic crossroads for global football, a place poised to shape the game far beyond Africa’s borders.
Infantino emphasized that the new office symbolizes a pivotal shift for African football, placing Morocco firmly at the center of the sport’s global growth. He also highlighted the country’s increasing role on the world stage, pointing to its upcoming responsibilities as host of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, future editions of the U17 Women’s World Cup, and the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe echoed these sentiments, calling Morocco the ideal location for such a bold initiative. He credited King Mohammed VI for his unwavering support of African football and emphasized the steady rise of national teams across the continent. He referenced Morocco’s historic performance at the most recent World Cup as a clear sign of Africa’s growing football prowess.
Fouzi Lekjaa, meanwhile, framed the new office as a key piece of a broader, long-term vision guided by the leadership of King Mohammed VI. He stressed that the Salé complex is more than a training center—it’s a platform for nurturing young African talent and creating connections with the wider world.
The establishment of FIFA’s Africa office follows an agreement signed last December in Marrakech during the CAF Awards. The deal was formalized by Gianni Infantino, Fouzi Lekjaa, and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, setting the stage for a deeper, more permanent presence of global football governance on the continent.
