Tuesday 14 May 2024

2025 AFCON /2030 WC: Govt, CDG Fund Sign Partnership Agreement to Upgrade 6 Football Stadiums, Build New One

Rabat – A partnership agreement was signed on Friday in Rabat between the government and the Deposit and Management Fund (CDG), to finance a program to upgrade six football stadiums, selected in accordance with the High Royal Directives in the cities of Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Marrakech and Fez, as well as to build a new stadium in Benslimane, in preparation for the 2025 AFCON and the 2030 World Cup.

“In application of the High Royal Directives aimed at ensuring the full success of the Kingdom’s organization of the final phases of the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 Football World Cup, the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, presided over the signing ceremony of a partnership agreement between the government and the Deposit and Management Fund, for the financing of a program to upgrade 6 football stadiums, chosen in accordance with the High Royal Directives in the cities of Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Marrakech and Fez, as well as for the construction of a new stadium in Benslimane,” says a press release by the Department of the Head of Government.

The agreement was signed by Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, and Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget, on the one hand, and by Khalid Safir, General Manager of the Deposit and Management Fund, on the other, the press release adds.

The project is part of HM King Mohammed VI’s far-sighted vision to further develop the Kingdom’s football infrastructure, and to bring the six stadiums involved in the upgrading and modernization project into line with the standards of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) by 2025, and those of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) by 2028. These are the Grand Stade de Tangier, the Mohammed V complex in Casablanca, the Prince Moulay Abdallah Sporting Complex in Rabat, the Grand Stadium of Agadir, the Grand Stadium of Marrakech and the Sporting Complex of Fez.

With this agreement, the government will have completed the establishment of sources of financing for the upgrading and construction of stadiums to host the final phases of the CAN 2025 and the World Cup 2030. Under the terms of the agreement, a budget of some 9.5 billion dirhams will be mobilized for the implementation of investment projects relating to the upgrading of these stadiums to CAF standards over the period 2023 – 2025. A second upgrade will be carried out at a later stage, in line with FIFA standards, for a budget of between 4.5 and 6 billion dirhams, over the period 2025 – 2028, says the same source.

The agreement signed between the government and CDG also covers the construction of a new stadium in Benslimane (Casablanca-Settat region), for an investment budget of around 5 billion dirhams, over the period 2025 – 2028.

The Head of Government took the opportunity to state that Morocco’s organization of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, as well as the 2030 World Cup in conjunction with Spain and Portugal, is a consecration of the development process led by His Majesty the King, may God assist him, over more than two decades, and a recognition of the Kingdom’s special place among the great nations, the press release continued. It added that the government remains mobilized for the realization of these investment projects and the establishment of all the conditions ensuring full success to the organization by our country of the CAN 2025 and the World Cup 2030.

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Projects linked to the organization by Morocco, alongside Spain and Portugal, of the 2030 World Cup have been launched in all sectors, in accordance with the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, said, on Thursday in Rabat, Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa.

Morocco will endeavor to ensure the success of this major event, Lekjaa told the press at the end of an enlarged meeting, held as part of the preparations for the 2030 World Cup.

It was devoted to the coordination between all the ministerial departments concerned, the setting up of a unified system of joint action and the implementation of an integrated roadmap, based on the proper fulfillment of commitments, the convergence of initiatives and interventions and the harmonization of their programming, within the framework of the complementary roles of the various stakeholders, so as to guarantee the necessary conditions and means enabling the Kingdom to succeed in the challenge of co-hosting this global sporting event with Spain and Portugal.

This edition will be, as intended by His Majesty the King, the best in the history of this event, added Lekjaa, noting that this enlarged meeting is part of a series of similar ones held since the announcement by the Sovereign to the Moroccan people of the good news of the organization by Morocco of the 2030 World Cup jointly with Spain and Portugal.

The Minister noted that the meeting was an opportunity to take stock of the work accomplished to date and to discuss the actions to be taken as soon as possible, stressing that the joint bid will be presented before the end of July and will be voted on by FIFA before the end of the year.
 

An enlarged meeting was held on Thursday at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior, as part of the intensive preparations for the organization of the 2030 World Cup, in line with the Royal Vision and Will, which carry a strong ambition to ensure the great success of this international event.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Equipment and Water, the Minister of National Education, Preschool Learning and Sports, the Minister of National Land Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy, the Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, the Minister of Transport and Logistics and the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget.

The meeting also took place in the presence of the walis and presidents of the councils of the regions concerned by the organization of the World Cup matches, as well as the presidents and representatives of the communal councils of these regions.

A statement by the Ministry of the Interior said that the meeting was devoted to the coordination between all the ministerial departments concerned, the setting up of a unified system of joint action and the implementation of an integrated roadmap, based on the proper fulfillment of commitments, the convergence of initiatives and interventions and the harmonization of their programming, within the framework of the complementary roles of the various stakeholders, so as to guarantee the necessary conditions and means enabling the Kingdom to succeed in the challenge of co-hosting this global sporting event with Spain and Portugal.

This coordination meeting was an opportunity for all stakeholders to reiterate their determination to intensify sectoral efforts and mobilize all capacities and resources, as well as to present efficient initiatives, in line with a global vision aimed at devising an innovative organizational offering that meets, in all its aspects, the Royal ambition to move forward with a distinguished organization of this world event, and to strengthen Morocco’s position as a reliable partner for hosting international events, and consolidate the Kingdom’s privileged place among the great nations.

It was also an occasion to reaffirm the Kingdom’s commitment to working, in perfect complementarity, with the bodies responsible for this issue in the host countries (Morocco-Spain-Portugal), to make the 2030 World Cup an exceptional event and a milestone in the organization of sporting events, capable of consolidating the civilizational, cultural and human aspects uniting the three countries, concluded the statement.

The joint bid’s slogan “YallaVamos 2030” and its visual identity were unveiled on Tuesday in Lisbon, marking a significant milestone in the Morocco-Portugal-Spain bid for the 2030 World Cup.

The event, attended by Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fernando Gomes, President of the Portuguese Football Federation, and Fernando Sanz of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, showcased the bid’s pillars, narrative, official website, video and social media pages.

Central to the presentation was the visual identity of the “YallaVamos 2030” bid. The coordinating committee drew inspiration from naive art, a style shared by artists from the three countries and continents. The visual identity, characterized by arcs of solid red, yellow, green and blue, pays tribute to the colors of the three flags while symbolizing the elements of nature.

The commission further emphasized that “Morocco, Portugal and Spain link the coasts of Africa and Europe, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, welcoming the world to the crossroads of civilisations. Three countries with a shared history, culture, geography and ambition, which are individually unique, but collectively intertwined”.

The joint Morocco, Portugal and Spain bid was formally initiated with the signing of a declaration of intent at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé in October. Subsequently, on 4 October, the FIFA Council unanimously accepted the Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid as the sole candidate to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Co-hosting the 2030 Football World Cup is a concrete example of the excellent Moroccan-Spanish relations and the mutual determination to advance the bilateral Roadmap adopted in 2022, Spanish Government President Pedro Sánchez said in Rabat on Wednesday.

“Hosting the World Cup is undoubtedly an extraordinary challenge, but above all an opportunity to further strengthen the foundations of friendship between Morocco, Spain and Portugal,” he told a press conference held at the end of his working visit to the Kingdom.

This global sporting event will enable the organizing countries to “convey, to the whole world, a very positive message of collaboration, good organization and fraternity,” he pointed out.

In this respect, the Spanish top official underlined the importance of holding a forum bringing together Moroccan and Spanish companies, “to explore cooperation and investment opportunities with a view to bringing this exciting project to fruition,” particularly in terms of infrastructure.

“The 2030 World Cup will be the crowning achievement of the extraordinary collaboration and cooperation between our two countries,” further noted Sánchez, who is starting a new term at the head of the Spanish executive.

Football federations of Morocco, Portugal and Spain officially signed, on Wednesday, the bid agreement to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.The signing of the bid agreement is a commitment by the three football Federations to respect the rules and framework governing the bidding process, said the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) in a statement published on its website, noting that the document also offers guidance on key technical aspects of the bid, including its promotion and evaluation criteria.

“The Moroccan, Portuguese and Spanish football federations will now be working together more closely than ever to develop a bid that will enable the FIFA World Cup to exceed all expectations,” said the FRMF, adding that “in sharing their vision and outlook for the tournament last month, the Federations expressed their intention to deliver a tournament that strengthens the FIFA World Cup legacy, develops football and will have a significant impact worldwide”.With the 2030 FIFA World Cup marking the centenary of the tournament’s first edition, added the same source, “special efforts will be made to ensure that the latter serves as a model for the next 100 years”.”In particular, the host countries will be showcasing their unique cultures to foster collaboration between Europe, Africa and the rest of the world, while ensuring that the event is sustainable, friendly and inclusive for fans of all ages and backgrounds,” according to the same source.At the signing ceremony, president of the Portuguese football federation, Fernando Gomes, said that the signing of the bid agreement represented “a historic moment for our federations and for football in our three countries”.”Today, we celebrate all those who have made this moment possible, and from tomorrow, we work to develop a bid and tournament plan that will impress football fans around the world, and to hold a tournament that will be a unique new experience for all football fans worldwide,” he noted.For his part, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, stressed that “thanks to the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, football in Morocco is developing like never before, from the grass roots right up to our national teams”.”

Joining forces with Portugal and Spain to create a FIFA World Cup that will be revolutionary and forever mark the history of world football. Together, we will make history. The first transcontinental men’s FIFA World Cup. The first to be organized in two continents and three countries. And only the second on the entire African continent.

Our impact can be phenomenal, because our 2030 World Cup will be a footballing event that will mark a new turning point,” stressed Lekjaa.President of the Royal Spanish football federation, Pedro Rocha, said: “We are very grateful for the confidence FIFA has shown in our vision so far (…) and we look forward to working together in the coming months”.”We are aware of the considerable responsibility that comes with hosting a football World Cup, and we are already measuring its full significance. Three countries will host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, but its legacy will be felt everywhere,” he added.

The 2030 World Cup will be “the best in history”, Fernando Sanz, Director of International Business Development at the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), said.

“We are working with our Moroccan and Portuguese peers to organize the best edition of a World Cup of all time,” Fernando Sanz on Wednesday told Movistar channel.

“We are working in harmony to prepare all the details of a strong bid. We exchange visits and move the project forward,” he added.

 “There is permanent contact between the different joint bid committees”, the former Real Madrid player noted.

Football federations of Morocco, Portugal and Spain officially signed, on Wednesday, the bid agreement to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The signing of the bid agreement is a commitment by the three football Federations to respect the rules and framework governing the bidding process, said the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) in a statement published on its website, noting that the document also offers guidance on key technical aspects of the bid, including its promotion and evaluation criteria.