U15 World Cup : Morocco reach last 16
The Morocco under-15 national team qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup in Baku after a convincing 4-1 victory over Cameroon.
The young talents of national football continue their brilliant run on the international stage. This Wednesday, 28 October 2026, at the Hovsan Sports Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Morocco under-15 team secured a brilliant qualification for the round of 16 of the U15 World Cup. Facing Cameroon in this decisive first-round match, the Atlas Lioncels won by a clear score of 4-1. This resounding victory confirms the excellent health of the Kingdom’s youth teams and concrete results of the development work carried out by national football governing bodies.
An attacking festival and a perfect first-round run
The match got off to a flying start for the Moroccan players thanks to a very early opening goal scored by Saïd Noufia in the third minute. Moroccan dominance was then solidified with two quick-fire goals by Yassine Ajana in the 27th minute and Adam Mimouni in the 28th minute, stifling any hopes of a comeback from the Cameroonian side. Just before the break, Saïd Noufia completed a personal brace in the 39th minute to definitively seal his team’s success. With this fifth consecutive victory in as many matches played, the Moroccan selection concluded the group stage with a perfect record.
An anticipated clash for a place in the quarter-finals
Buoyed by this winning momentum and impressive attacking efficiency since the start of the global tournament, the Moroccan team approaches the knockout stage with maximum confidence. For their round-of-16 tie scheduled for later today, Morocco will face the winner of the duel between Paraguay and Cyprus. The quality of collective play displayed by the young Moroccan internationals and their tactical discipline make the national selection one of the most serious contenders for top honours in this international competition held in Azerbaijan.
Nasima El Bachiri-Ouamar: The Moroccan in the final in the Netherlands
A mother of five and an accomplished entrepreneur in the Netherlands, Nasima El Bachiri-Ouamar has reached the top five finalists for the Business Women Nederland Award 2026. Her journey in male-dominated sectors serves as an inspiring model.
A new success illustrates the excellence and determination of the national diaspora on an international scale. A mother of five and a seasoned business leader with a twenty-six-year career, Moroccan-Dutch entrepreneur Nasima El Bachiri-Ouamar has qualified for the final of the prestigious Business Women Nederland Award 2026. Born in the Netherlands to Moroccan parents from the Nador region, she was selected from thirty-four high-impact candidates before joining the select circle of five finalists in the competition. Currently leading the popular vote while awaiting the jury’s final verdict scheduled for 25 November 2026, the leader hopes this remarkable journey will serve as an example and encouragement for other women, particularly within the Moroccan and Muslim community.
An entrepreneurial empire built on a sense of opportunity
The business woman’s entrepreneurial venture began in 2000 with the founding of her main company specialising in cleaning and maintenance services. Having identified a lack of quality from the contractor at the company where she was working at the time, she decided to launch her own business, which today employs over one hundred people deployed across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Over the years, the executive diversified her investments by acquiring a window cleaning business, opening a bridal boutique, and creating, during the 2020 health crisis, a timber construction factory to preserve her staff’s jobs during the temporary stoppage in the cleaning sector.
A Moroccan woman’s determination in the face of prejudice
Succeeding in fields of activity traditionally dominated by men demanded constant strength of character and a remarkable capacity for adaptation. Whether dealing with clients mistaking her for a simple receptionist during meetings in the construction sector or the simultaneous departure of twelve employees when acquiring her window cleaning company, the Moroccan leader has always responded with professionalism and responsiveness. By balancing the development of her business activities with raising her five children, she demonstrates the possibility of combining family achievement with high-level economic success.
2030 World Cup : Morocco targets final ahead of FIFA inspection
As FIFA inspection visits approach, the Kingdom is emphasizing its organizational expertise gained from hosting major international tournaments. The country aims to host the World Cup final at the future Grand Stade Hassan II.
The countdown is becoming clearer for the joint hosting of the 2030 World Cup, opening a decisive period for evaluating bids presented by the co-hosting nations. During November and December, a delegation of FIFA experts will inspect infrastructure and facilities across candidate cities in the three host countries, featuring six major stops in Morocco. For the Kingdom, the goal is to confirm a reputation for excellence built over previous competitions and to present strong arguments for securing the tournament’s most prestigious fixtures.
Logistical expertise forged through major tournaments
Few host nations can boast such a rich and varied track record of hosting top-tier international competitions in recent years. The country has successively demonstrated its operational capabilities by hosting the FIFA Club World Cup, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2025, and the Futsal AFCON, alongside hosting multiple consecutive editions of the U-17 Women’s World Cup. This accumulated experience allows for fine-tuning all essential arrangements meeting international governing body standards, ranging from supporter flow management and urban transport to top-tier security and hotel accommodation requirements.
A legitimate ambition to host the final at Grand Stade Hassan II
Beyond the technical validation of bid files by FIFA inspectors, the Kingdom harbors the strategic ambition of hosting the 2030 World Cup final on home soil, showcasing the monumental Grand Stade Hassan II project. Facing competition from historical venues in Spain and Portugal, the Moroccan bid relies on the modern design of its flagship stadium and the momentum from its recent sporting successes. Once the inspection phase and official decisions regarding the final match allocations are concluded, Morocco intends to transform this global spectacle into a striking demonstration of its know-how and continental leadership.
2030 World Cup : Morocco awaits FIFA with full confidence
FIFA is set to deploy an inspection mission in November and December across the six Moroccan candidate host cities for the 2030 World Cup. Buoyed by the organizational success of its recent major tournaments, the Kingdom approaches this review with confidence.
The joint hosting of the 2030 World Cup is entering a concrete and decisive evaluation phase on the ground. Football’s world governing body has formalised the dispatch of a major delegation of experts tasked with inspecting, between November and December, all venues and infrastructure included in the Moroccan bid. Six host cities in the Kingdom are directly concerned by these technical visits: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech, and Agadir. National sports and institutional leaders welcome this step with complete confidence, relying on a solid track record built during the hosting of major international sporting events in recent years.
Proven event expertise on major tournaments
The Kingdom’s capacity to manage top-tier international competitions no longer needs to be proven to sports governing bodies. Moroccan territory has successfully hosted several editions of the Club World Cup, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and AFCON 2025 staged in fully modernised venues. The successful hosting of the 2026 Futsal AFCON and the country being entrusted with five consecutive editions of the U-17 Women’s World Cup reflect the high regard in which FIFA holds Moroccan organizational know-how. These successive achievements have validated the reliability of transport infrastructure, the quality of the hotel network, and the efficiency of the national security apparatus.
Modern infrastructure ready for FIFA evaluation
During their investigations, FIFA inspectors will hold in-depth working meetings with local authorities, venue managers, and key mobility stakeholders. The delegation will discover world-class facilities such as Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex, renovated to international standards, and the monumental Grand Stade Hassan II project designed to host the World Cup’s marquee fixtures. These evaluation visits will also focus on the progress of the country’s major structural projects, including the expansion of the high-speed rail network towards Marrakech, the modernisation of the airport network, and the accommodation capacity expansion plan. Following similar steps scheduled in Spain and Portugal, this technical review will allow Morocco to demonstrate its complete readiness for the 2030 spectacle.
2027 Finance Bill : 400 billion in public investment in Morocco
The 2027 Finance Bill sets a record envelope of 400 billion dirhams for public investment. This massive program aims to accelerate major infrastructure projects while maintaining the budget deficit at 3% of GDP.
The Kingdom reaffirms its strategic ambition through a fiscal policy resolutely focused on investment and economic recovery. According to the presentation note of the 2027 Finance Bill, total public investment will reach the unprecedented amount of 400 billion dirhams for the upcoming financial year. Within this major financial effort, an envelope of 251 billion dirhams will be directly borne by public establishments and enterprises, incorporating strategic interventions by the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment. Despite the steady rise in social spending and tax adjustments, the executive is maintaining its objective of macroeconomic balance by fixing the budget deficit at 3% of GDP. The credibility and impact of this large-scale programme will be measured on the ground through the effective delivery of construction projects and the sustainable creation of jobs.
A lever of acceleration for the Kingdom’s major infrastructure
This exceptional budgetary effort directly supports long-term strategic development priorities and preparations for the 2030 World Cup. In the air transport sector, an expansion program worth 38 billion dirhams will increase the capacity of Moroccan airports to 80 million passengers by 2030. Meanwhile, the rail network benefits from a multi-year plan of 96 billion dirhams including the extension of the high-speed line to Marrakech. In parallel, water sovereignty remains an absolute priority, with investments aimed at exceeding 24 billion cubic metres of storage capacity in dams by the end of 2027, complemented by the deployment of seawater desalination plants.
Expected territorial and social benefits in the regions
To ensure balanced development across the national territory, regional and territorial programmes are allocated 25 billion dirhams in credits for 2027. The ambition of this massive investment cycle is to serve as an engine for the real economy by supporting the government’s target of creating at least one million sustainable jobs during its term. Transparency in expenditure execution and rigorous monitoring of implementation indicators by region will make it possible to verify the concrete improvement of local public services, connectivity, and living standards for all Moroccan citizens.
2030 World Cup : Morocco aims for 60,000 more hotel beds
In perspective of the 2030 World Cup, the Kingdom is accelerating the modernisation of its tourism offering with the objective of creating 60,000 additional beds. This investment momentum positions the country among the most attractive hotel markets in Africa.
The joint hosting of the 2030 World Cup is driving a major acceleration for the tourism sector and the development of accommodation infrastructure across the entire national territory. In order to absorb the massive influx of visitors and meet international standards, the Kingdom has set itself the goal of adding 60,000 extra hotel beds by the 2030 deadline, representing an increase of around 20% in its overall accommodation capacity. This massive investment effort is generating considerable enthusiasm among financial operators and major international groups, consolidating Morocco’s position as the second most dynamic African market for hotel development, just behind Egypt.
Global hospitality giants reinforce their Moroccan presence
The sector’s growth prospects are heavily attracting investors and major international hotel brands. According to data published in W Hospitality Group’s 2026 report on Africa, 75 projects led by international chains are currently under development in the country, totaling more than 10,000 new rooms. Nearly 70% of these openings are planned for the years 2026 and 2027, primarily targeting major metropolises such as Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier. Leading players such as Radisson, Hilton, Accor, Four Seasons, Ennismore, as well as national operator Risma, are expanding their locations, backed by large-scale international financial arrangements and support from strategic investment funds.
Towards a sustainable tourism model by 2030
Beyond simply responding to the needs of the global sporting event, authorities and private players intend to transform this equipment drive into a lever for sustainable growth for the national economy. The challenge of this expansion policy lies in integrating sustainability through responsible management of water resources, opening up new tourist areas, and creating qualified local jobs. This transformation of the hotel landscape is set to accompany the expansion of air links and the diversification of the cultural offering, allowing Morocco to reach its strategic goal of 26 million tourists by 2030 with confidence.
Used vehicle transfer : Morocco simplifies administrative procedures
The National Road Safety Agency (Agence nationale de la sécurité routière) is easing the registration certificate process for used vehicles. Buyers can now submit their application to services or postal branches located in either the seller’s or the buyer’s place of residence.
The Moroccan administration has taken another step forward in modernising and facilitating procedures for road users. The National Road Safety Agency has formalised a major relaxation of the regulatory procedure for transferring ownership of used vehicles in Morocco. Following the implementation of this decision, buyers are free to submit their complete registration file either to the competent authority attached to their own place of residence, or to the one covering the seller’s address. This long-awaited measure aims to relieve congestion at registration centres while significantly reducing travel constraints for both private individuals and automotive industry professionals.
Enhanced proximity through the postal and digital network
To offer citizens greater flexibility and streamline the processing of registration documents, the national agency is also relying on an expanded territorial network of local partners. Users can submit their supporting documents at Barid Bank branches as well as Barid Cash outlets located within the area of residence of either party to the transaction. In parallel, all practical arrangements, documentation requirements, and preliminary steps remain directly accessible online via the digital platform khadamatnarsa.ma to assist users during the transition to these simplified services.
Major relief for the used-car market
This administrative reform meets the growing expectations of dealerships and commercial operators specialising in used-car sales across the national territory. By removing strict geographic restrictions that previously required long trips to settle the administrative status of a motor vehicle, the new directive guarantees valuable time savings and lowers transaction logistics costs. This initiative is fully aligned with the Kingdom’s overall strategy to digitise public services and bring them closer to citizens to meet modern mobility needs.
Morocco : Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri’s Viral Response
Challenged under an incorrect title in the House of Representatives, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri firmly shut down opposition MPs. This Moroccan parliamentary exchange is generating widespread coverage across the international press.
A verbal exchange in the Moroccan Parliament has crossed the Kingdom’s borders and made waves in international media. On 22 October 2026, during a session in the House of Representatives, Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri immediately corrected an opposition MP who repeatedly addressed her using the masculine title of head of government. Confidently reminding her counterpart of her official title, the leader asserted that he would have to get used to it. This incisive and symbolic intervention instantly set social media alight before being widely picked up and analyzed by foreign press outlets, particularly in Italy where major dailies such as La Repubblica and Open devoted detailed reports to the event.
A committed speech in favour of Moroccan women’s empowerment
Beyond the procedural correction issued to Justice and Development Party MPs, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri used the platform to deliver a powerful plea for women’s rights. Responding to conservative views on the role of women in society, the Head of Government affirmed that she was not a mere decorative object, but a brain, a conscience, and a set of convictions serving the nation. She strongly denounced the double standard of certain political leaders, highlighting the reality of widows and divorced women who struggle daily to support their households alone. This address, applauded in the chamber, adds major social resonance to her political action.
A historic trajectory for the first female Head of Government
The international impact of this event is also explained by the leader’s pioneering journey. A former lawyer and the first female mayor of Marrakech in 2009, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri became, on 29 September 2026, the first woman to lead the Moroccan government following her party’s victory in the parliamentary elections. By clearly reasserting her authority from the parliamentary podium, she marks a highly symbolic milestone in the Kingdom’s contemporary political history and embodies the evolution of female leadership within state institutions.
Ballon d’Or : Moroccan Achraf Hakimi thirteenth in the world
The Atlas Lions captain and Paris Saint-Germain full-back ranked thirteenth in the 2026 Ballon d’Or. This nomination rewards an exceptional season marked by a quadruple with his club and an African title.
International recognition continues for top-level Moroccan football stalwarts. Gradually revealed this Monday, 26 October during the prestigious 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony organized by France Football, the final ranking places Achraf Hakimi in thirteenth position globally. The right-back and Atlas Lions captain thus confirms his lasting presence among the world’s footballing elite. Having previously ranked sixth in the preceding edition, the Moroccan defender once again stands out for his consistency at the top and his major role in the collective achievements of both his club and the Morocco national team.
A historic quadruple in Parisian colors
This thirteenth-place finish crowns a particularly brilliant 2025–2026 campaign in terms of collective silverware. In the Paris Saint-Germain jersey, Achraf Hakimi was one of the key architects of a memorable quadruple featuring victories in Ligue 1, the Trophée des Champions, the UEFA Super Cup, and above all, the Champions League in the final played in Munich. His performances at right-back and his decisive attacking contributions allowed the Paris club to dominate European football throughout the season.
Proven leadership within the Moroccan national team
On the international stage, Achraf Hakimi continued to write the finest chapters of national football in the Kingdom’s colors. The Moroccan national team captain led the Atlas Lions to the ultimate title at the 2025 AFCON hosted in Morocco, before guiding his team to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. During this memorable year, the defender also reached a major symbolic milestone by celebrating his hundredth cap in the national shirt, cementing his status as a legend of Moroccan sport.
Kopa Trophy : Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi sixth in the world
During the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, Moroccan international Ayyoub Bouaddi ranked sixth for the Kopa Trophy. The award for the world’s best young player was presented to Lamine Yamal for the third time.
Morocco’s young footballing talent shines once again on the highest international stage. On the occasion of the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony held in London, the young Atlas Lions international Ayyoub Bouaddi secured a highly respectable sixth place in the final standings for the Kopa Trophy. This prestigious individual distinction, which rewards the world’s best player under the age of 21, confirms the midfielder’s promising talent and the growing appeal of Moroccan gems playing in Europe’s major leagues. The presence of the young Atlas Lion among the world’s top ten prospects bears witness to the quality of development and the rise of national football.
A third consecutive crown for Spain’s Lamine Yamal
Unsurprisingly, the first award presented during this grand London evening went to Lamine Yamal, who writes another chapter in the history of this category. Having already won in 2024 and 2025, the Spanish national team forward won the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year. Following an exceptional season highlighted by a World Cup title with La Roja and a domestic double with FC Barcelona, the Spanish international compiled impressive statistics with 20 goals and 20 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions.
A global ranking dominated by European youth
Behind the untouchable Spanish winner, the final standings highlight the future icons of world football alongside whom the Moroccan international managed to earn his place. Lamine Yamal finished ahead of his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí as well as young Ivorian forward Yan Diomandé, who shone in the colors of RB Leipzig before signing with Real Madrid. The sixth position achieved by Ayyoub Bouaddi serves as major encouragement for the remainder of his international career and brings immense pride to supporters of the Morocco national team.
