FIFA President Gianni Infantino Praises Morocco’s Football Rise During Visit to Rabat
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: During his visit to Rabat ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Final, FIFA President Gianni Infantino commended Morocco for its growing influence in world football, attributing the country’s success to a clear vision, strategic investment, and strong leadership.
Speaking just hours before the final match, Infantino described Morocco as a nation that “breathes football, lives football,” adding that the country’s achievements are the outcome of years of structured effort.
“The semi-final of the 2022 World Cup was not an accident,” he said, “but the result of structured work, both at the men’s and women’s levels.”
Infantino also congratulated Morocco’s U-20 team for their recent World Cup victory in Chile, calling it “a well-deserved title, achieved at the end of a beautiful final against Argentina.” He praised the team’s performance, remarking, “And what a final against Argentina for it to end on — beautiful stuff.”
According to the FIFA President, the triumph of Morocco’s youth teams and its growing prominence on the global stage demonstrate that “Moroccan football is going places and the investment into training is really paying off.”
Morocco, he noted, has made history as the first African country to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Infantino underscored the significance of the milestone, stating, “It’s the first Women’s World Cup on this continent to actually take place in Morocco — and, as luck would have it, it’s the first of five that will be held here in the next while.”
He expressed deep appreciation to Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), for his leadership and to King Mohammed VI, acknowledging the monarch’s unwavering support for football development in the country. “Without His Majesty’s efforts, all this football goodness just wouldn’t be happening in this fantastic country,” Infantino said.
Morocco’s remarkable football progress — from the men’s historic 2022 World Cup semi-final, to the U-20 World Cup victory, and now the successful hosting of the U-17 Women’s World Cup — stands as powerful evidence of the nation’s long-term planning, investment, and commitment to football excellence.
