Adil Azeroual

Appearing on 2M’s Saât Assaraha program on Wednesday, October 28, Fouzi Lekjaa discussed progress on the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane and Morocco’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup final. The FRMF president highlighted the stadium’s planned capacity while stressing that Morocco’s ambitions for the tournament extend well beyond which country hosts which matches.

Spain could be looking to expand its list of potential host cities for the 2030 World Cup, with Spanish sports daily AS reporting that Valencia and Vigo may also receive FIFA inspection visits. However, neither city appears on the official list announced by FIFA, raising questions about whether the two cities could join the bidding process.

The inspections will cover 15 candidate host cities, including six in Morocco, as FIFA assesses preparations and proposed stadiums ahead of the final selection.

Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca will temporarily close for an overseeding operation on its pitch, forcing Wydad and Raja to play some of their upcoming home matches at Larbi Zaouli Stadium. The work aims to restore the playing surface to optimal condition ahead of Morocco’s match against Niger on November 13 in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 2027 Finance Bill provides for MAD 1.977 billion in payment appropriations for the six stadiums selected to host matches at the 2030 World Cup in Morocco. The Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane receives the largest allocation, ahead of the Prince Moulay Abdellah complex in Rabat and the Grand Stade de Tanger.

The 2027 Finance Bill proposes a range of tax exemptions for FIFA and other parties involved in the 2030 World Cup, following precedents set by South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Qatar. Morocco, however, is considering more far-reaching benefits, particularly in how long they would remain in force. The United States has taken a different approach to the 2026 tournament.

British newspaper “The Times” apologized to Gianni Infantino and FIFA on Tuesday, October 20, after publishing inaccurate information about the world football governing body president’s compensation and the alleged acquisition of a property in Miami.

With rumors circulating about Spain’s interest in recruiting her, Mayssa Baha has made clear her attachment to Morocco. The young FC Barcelona player spoke about her pride in wearing the national team shirt, her daily life at the Catalan club and her family’s footballing legacy, while also offering words of encouragement to Morocco’s U-17 women’s team.

Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd has taken on a new portfolio as minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, with a long list of challenges ahead. Drawing lessons from Moroccan football and golf, reforming the country’s sports legislation, strengthening school sports, supporting federations and attracting major international competitions are among the priorities facing the minister.