FIFA officially inaugurated its first Africa regional headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, yesterday, July 26, 2025, to strengthen football development across the continent, marking a historic milestone in African sports. The state-of-the-art office, located at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, was opened by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, alongside Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe and Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaa, with Infantino hailing the event as “a glorious day” that will be “written in gold letters” for football in Africa, emphasizing the office’s role in fostering closer ties with African federations and supporting development programs.
The Rabat office, established under a December 2024 agreement signed in Marrakech by FIFA, the Moroccan government, and the FRMF, will serve as a strategic hub for North and West Africa, coordinating with other FIFA offices in Dakar, Brazzaville, Kigali, and Johannesburg, per The North Africa Post. Lekjaa noted that the facility reflects King Mohammed VI’s vision to make Morocco a hub for football excellence, stating, “Morocco will remain a home for African football, open to all players, coaches, and experts,” Barlaman says. The inauguration coincided with the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, and underscores Morocco’s growing influence as it prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, reportedly.
