The Africa Office of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was officially inaugurated on Saturday at the prestigious Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, during a high-level ceremony led by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The event was attended by prominent football leaders, including Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa, and other dignitaries from the global football community.

“This is a historic moment and a day of celebration that will be inscribed in golden letters in the history of FIFA and football in Africa, in Morocco, and across the world,” said Infantino during his keynote address. He highlighted the significance of the occasion, coinciding with Morocco’s Throne Day celebrations, and described the Mohammed VI Football Complex as “an incredible and magnificent facility.”

Infantino expressed gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for his visionary leadership and support for the development of sport across Africa. “The Royal momentum to develop football is unique,” he noted, underscoring that the new office represents more than a regional base — it is a global center with a profound impact on football’s growth worldwide.

The FIFA President also pointed to Morocco’s growing role in world football, referencing the country’s hosting of several major tournaments, including:

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for men, the next five editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted with Spain and Portugal.

> “The world will unite here in Morocco,” Infantino declared.

Infantino further celebrated the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) between Morocco and Nigeria, describing it as “a grand and beautiful celebration” of women's football and a reflection of the Moroccan public’s unmatched passion for the game.

CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe welcomed the inauguration, stating:

> “No better place could have been chosen for this office.”

> He thanked His Majesty King Mohammed VI for his continued dedication to football, praising African teams’ performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, particularly Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals.

FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa emphasized that the FIFA Africa Office, housed within the Mohammed VI Complex, is the direct result of His Majesty’s visionary strategy to develop youth and sport in Morocco and across the continent.

> “This Vision aims to make Morocco a land of hospitality and a meeting point for talents from all over the world,” Lekjaa said.

He added that the Office embodies FIFA’s commitment to African football at all levels and reinforces Morocco’s status as a nation of tolerance and intercultural dialogue.

The establishment of the FIFA Africa Office follows a headquarters agreement signed in December 2024 in Marrakech, on the sidelines of the CAF Awards ceremony by Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa.