Morocco has become “an emerging soccer superpower” in recent years, the New York Times wrote in a report that, in addition to its sporting achievements, also highlighted the kingdom’s progress in developing its sports facilities, improving scouting and… Strengthening the training of young talent, including reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
“Morocco has emerged as a central football hub for the continent – a position strengthened by the announcement that FIFA will open its first permanent African headquarters in Marrakech,” the US newspaper said in a commentary entitled “How Morocco became an emerging soccer superpower.”
In its specialist supplement “The Athletic”, the New York Times recalled that in 2022 the kingdom became the first African or Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.
“It was widely hailed as one of the competition’s great underdog stories, capturing hearts and minds far beyond the continent, but it did not happen by accident,” it stressed, adding that Morocco’s “newfound position is only possible through huge investment “Sports facilities.”
One of the most eye-catching is the state-of-the-art Mohammed VI Football Academy, it said, adding that the facility just outside Rabat covers an area of 2.5 square kilometers and has a school, a medical center and four playing fields.
By 2017, five more regional training centers had been built in different parts of the country, the daily reported, adding that the Grand Stade Hassan II, which is being built with a planned capacity of 115,000 spectators, “will be the largest football ground in the world.” and a symbol of the country’s newfound status as one of the emerging powers of world football.”
Many in the country hope that the stadium will host the final of the 2030 World Cup, the US publication said, adding that before this World Cup, Morocco is also scheduled to host the next five editions of the U17 Women’s World Cup, starting in 2025 yearly. and in April, the capital Rabat is expected to host the next World Football Summit, a meeting with football leaders and industry experts.
“Scouting has improved in Morocco, as have the facilities that can be used to develop local talent,” the newspaper stressed, adding that last summer the OCP group signed a contract with the football association and private partners, in order to set up a “national training fund specifically for the professionalization of training centers and the promotion of young talent.”
“Leading Moroccan clubs, with quality infrastructure, have begun to occupy the top spots in Africa’s continental competitions: Casablanca’s Wydad won the CAF Champions League in 2017 and 2022 and their city rival Raja won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2018 and 2021. “ emphasized the New York Times.
