Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Moroccan football has made tremendous progress in recent years, becoming “a source of pride” for Africa and beyond, German international and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger said on Thursday in Washington.
Rüdiger made the remarks on the sidelines of a panel discussion organized by the American think tank Atlantic Council under the theme “Passing the Torch: Building the World Cup Legacy” in the presence of the ambassadors of Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
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“I think Morocco has done a fantastic job over the past 10 or 20 years. And, of course, it became the first African team to reach the semifinals of the World Cup. That is really something we are proud of,” Rüdiger told MAP.
The defender, who also chairs the Antonio Rüdiger Foundation, which promotes education and sports development in schools in Sierra Leone, praised Morocco’s achievements on the international stage.
Speaking about the Kingdom’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Rüdiger commended the level of preparation and infrastructure developed by Morocco, pointing in particular to the successful organization of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which, he said, marked “a great chapter” in African football.
“I think the world is going to enjoy this fantastic World Cup,” he said, adding that the tournament will also help “build bridges between Africa and Europe.”
