Morocco 2030: World Cup and national transformation

A catalyst for a profound transformation of Morocco

Recall that it was on December 11, 2024 that Morocco, Portugal and Spain were officially designated as host countries for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. This is for the first time that an African country is associated with two European countries to organize the World Cup. This decision by FIFA will contribute to the rapprochement of the two continents: Europe and Africa.Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Le Matin Group under the presidency of Mr Mohamed Haitami, dedicated its 8th edition of the “Morocco Today Forum” to this important event on the theme “Vision of a King-Morocco 2030: Consolidating the foundations of a great nation”. The Forum which took place in Rabat on July 11, 2025 welcomed nearly 1,000 participants, and was moderated by high-level speakers within the framework of three panels: Making humans the key factor for success, making the 2030 deadline an accelerator of sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development, making Morocco a “Digital Nation”. Several personalities spoke at the Forum including the Head of Government (by video), the Minister of Youth and Culture, the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of Industry and Trade, the Minister Delegate in charge of the Digital Transition, the president of the CGEM, and the CEO of Attijariwafa Bank.In their final declaration sanctioning the work of this edition, the speakers addressed the transformations to be undertaken to make Morocco a civic and competent society, where humans are at the heart of the project. There is reason to think about citizen ownership of the 2030 project, which is not exclusively that of the State but of all Moroccans. Hence the need to raise awareness among all citizens, to appeal to their civic-mindedness and their sense of hospitality to welcome the millions of visitors who will flock to Morocco. 35 million tourists are expected in 2030 for the Football World Cup. In this regard, there is reason to welcome foreign visitors at the same level as that reserved for them by Spain and Portugal. Hence the need to improve reception in our Airports and urban and extra-urban mobility, as well as compliance with the highway code (pedestrian walkways).On the economic front, there is reason to transform the 2030 World Cup into a level of growth, and to make this meeting a structural lever for sustainable growth, and not a simple economic peak. The 2030 World Cup must contribute to a Moroccan economy that is efficient over the long term, inclusive and creates jobs. The Minister of Economy and Finance, Mrs. Nadia Fettah, announced the creation of 100,000 jobs annually, and an estimated impact of +1.7% GDP growth. Hence the need to provide a clear and readable trajectory to investors, by making the economic environment predictable, attractive, and accessible for all types of economic actors, from large companies to SMEs. Concerning the investments made by 2030, there is reason to think in terms of a system, that is to say transport, reception, digitalization, rather than in terms of isolated projects. The objective is to ensure the coherence and overall impact of investments, through an integrated and intersectoral approach. There is also a need to create a “trickle-down” ecosystem for the entire economic fabric, allowing all companies to benefit from the opportunities generated by the 2030 World Cup. Moroccan banks are asked to diversify financing products, adapted to the territories and targets. In the digital sector, the final declaration calls for encouraging the emergence of Moroccan start-ups in artificial intelligence and data linked to event management, security and user experience. It also calls for progressive digitalization, but also inclusive, multi-sectoral and territorial. The “Morocco Today Forum” 2025 aims to create bridges between decision-makers, researchers, entrepreneurs and citizens around the challenges inherent to the 2030 World Cup, which much more than a sporting event is called upon to play a role in accelerating development on a national scale. In conclusion, we can only congratulate the organizers of this Forum which was a great success. The organization by Morocco, Spain and Portugal of the 2030 World Cup is an exceptional opportunity for our country. But it poses many challenges to overcome, hence the need to start working hard now, because 2030 is tomorrow.