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Ligue 1 : Achraf Hakimi shines with an exceptional hat-trick

Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi put in a dazzling performance on Friday 30 October 2026 whilst playing for Paris Saint-Germain. Scoring a sensational hat-trick in the 5–1 victory over Le Havre on Matchday 9 of Ligue 1, the captain of the Atlas Lions once again confirmed his status as a key figure on the European stage.

Hakimi strikes three times to spark a Parisian comeback

Although Le Havre had caught the Parisians off guard with Maja’s opener in the 18th minute, PSG responded swiftly. After Godts equalised in the 26th minute, it was Achraf Hakimi who took matters into his own hands two minutes later to put his side ahead and kick-start his team’s winning run.

The Moroccan football star didn’t stop there. In the second half, Hakimi returned to the fray with formidable efficiency, finding the back of the net in the 55th minute and then again in the 69th minute to seal a remarkable hat-trick. In the meantime, Mayulu had also made his mark by scoring Paris’s fourth goal in the 62nd minute.

A true leader on the pitch for the Lion of the Atlas

With three goals to his name, the Moroccan full-back established himself as the key architect of this masterclass. Usually feared for his lightning-fast bursts of pace and his quality crossing down the right flank, Hakimi this time displayed a composure and finishing ability worthy of the greatest strikers.

Beyond the 5–1 final score, which allows PSG to stay on course, the evening will be remembered for the Moroccan star’s outstanding performance, a source of pride for an entire nation as the national team’s upcoming fixtures draw near.

Tourism : 15.7 million arrivals in Morocco at end-September

U17 Women’s World Cup : Morocco, global football’s benchmark host

From 17 October to 7 November 2026, the Kingdom is hosting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The competition highlights the quality of national infrastructure and confirms Moroccan mastery in organising major events.

The Kingdom is establishing itself in spectacular fashion as one of international sport’s essential crossroads. From 17 October to 7 November 2026, the final phase of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup brings together the 24 best national teams on the planet in Morocco. Beyond the remarkable sporting performances recorded on the pitch, this global competition shines the world football spotlight on the country’s modern, world-class infrastructure. At the heart of this major logistical framework, the Mohammed VI Football Complex provides delegations with state-of-the-art facilities that scrupulously meet the strictest requirements of world football’s governing body.

The Mohammed VI Complex as a model of centralized infrastructure

The centralized organization of the tournament around the Mohammed VI Football Complex offers an exceptional environment for preparation and competition. Bringing together international-standard training pitches, high-end accommodation, tailored dining areas, physical preparation rooms, and a cutting-edge medical center on a single site, the Moroccan infrastructure guarantees optimal comfort for players and staff. This format also allows the public and recruiters to follow several major fixtures in a single day. Won over by this know-how and organizational mastery, FIFA has entrusted the Kingdom with hosting this competition for five consecutive editions until 2029.

Continental reach and a springboard towards the 2030 World Cup

This multi-year hosting award allows the country to test and perfect its operational setups ahead of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. The event also serves as a formidable showcase for African football, which achieves a historic performance with four of its five representatives qualifying for the round of 16, namely Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. By placing its technical expertise and world-class equipment at the service of the continent, the Kingdom provides striking proof that Africa possesses all the assets needed to organize the planet’s greatest events.

CAF Women’s Champions League : Morocco represented by AS FAR and FUS

National women’s football will be represented by two clubs during the continental final phase in Egypt. AS FAR and FUS Rabat will defend the Kingdom’s colors from 1 to 15 November in Ismailia.

Moroccan women’s football is preparing to write a new glorious page on the continental stage. From 1 to 15 November 2026, the city of Ismailia in Egypt will host the final phase of the CAF Women’s Champions League with a historic Moroccan presence. For the first time, two representatives from the Kingdom will participate simultaneously in this major event: AS FAR, defending continental champions, and FUS Rabat, brilliant qualifiers following the zonal playoffs. This double presence at the highest level spectacularly illustrates the influence of national women’s football, the result of structured background work carried out within the elite and youth categories.

AS FAR facing the challenge of an unprecedented African double

For the AS FAR players, the competition carries exceptional historical stakes. No continental team has managed to retain its crown since the tournament’s inauguration in 2021. Drawn in Group B, the Military women will face Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies, Mali’s USFAS Bamako, and Ampem Darkoa. In Group A, FUS Rabat will make their competition debut against FC Masar, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Lekié Football Girls. The semi-finals scheduled for 11 November will pave the way for the grand final set for 15 November at the Suez Canal Stadium.

The Kingdom asserts itself as the showcase for women’s football

This double qualification reflects the positive momentum driving the discipline across the country. At the same time, Morocco confirms its status as a host nation for major world events by hosting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where the young Atlas Lionesses reached the round of 16. From training centres to national teams, the investments made today make the Kingdom the true engine of African women’s football. This Egyptian edition highlights the overall elevation of regional club levels, driven by the emergence of new sporting ambitions.

CAF : The biennial AFCON and its stakes for Morocco

The Confederation of African Football has officialised the return of the Africa Cup of Nations to its historical two-year rhythm. This decision repositioning the competition at the heart of the continent’s sports economy.

Continental football is undergoing a major strategic realignment within its governing bodies. The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football made the unanimous decision on 29 October 2026 to restore the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations every two years. This return to the historical biennial cycle reverses the switch to a four-year rhythm adopted the previous year. For observers and the Morocco national team, this choice reaffirms the central role of the continent’s flagship competition as an essential sporting, economic, and cultural pillar, guaranteeing regular exposure for all stakeholders in the sport.

An essential financial and commercial lever for the continent

The body led by Patrice Motsepe justifies this decision by the need to protect the financial stability of member federations. With the future African Nations League requiring additional time to generate expected revenues, AFCON remains the most commercially profitable showcase. The decision aims to safeguard the economic interests of the 54 national associations while providing regular opportunities for visibility to African players competing domestically or in foreign leagues. This regularity also maintains a strong and constant connection with supporters, the diaspora, and the international public.

A clear calendar ahead of global deadlines

The organization of upcoming editions is now set within a clarified schedule for the years ahead. The next TotalEnergies edition will take place in 2027 under a joint hosting arrangement between Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, followed by editions scheduled in 2028, 2031, and 2033. Complying with FIFA’s global directives, the year 2030 will feature no continental tournament in order to give precedence to the World Cup. This transparent schedule will allow national teams to plan their preparation cycles with confidence and maximize economic benefits for the development of sports infrastructure.

Russia-Africa Summit : High-level Moroccan presence

2030 World Cup : Morocco’s bid for final defended by Lekjaa

Invited on the channel 2M, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation detailed the progress of the Grand Stade Hassan II. He believes that its 115,000-seat capacity makes it the natural candidate to host the 2030 World Cup final.

The allocation of the 2030 World Cup final is supported by strong arguments put forward by national sports authorities. Appearing this Wednesday, 28 October 2026, on the show Saât Assaraha broadcast on channel 2M, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and head of the Morocco 2030 Foundation, Fouzi Lekjaa, addressed the main directions of the project. Evoking the monumental construction site of the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, the official affirmed that the venue possesses all the necessary assets to host the ultimate match of the centennial competition. He notably emphasized that the World Cup final should naturally be awarded to the stadium offering the largest seating capacity of the tournament, a key criterion that places the Moroccan project in the lead with its planned 115,000 seats.

Early completion in 2028 and an urban metamorphosis

Beyond the sporting competition, the construction of this venue is integrated into a broader strategy of urban development and transformation for the Casablanca metropolis. The project is accompanied by a vast transport infrastructure programme including the development of the regional express network and the extension of the high-speed rail line. Regarding the construction schedule, forecasts point to full delivery of the facility by early 2028, nearly two years before the kickoff of the global tournament. This early completion will allow the teams of Wydad, Raja, as well as the national team of the Atlas Lions, to step onto the stadium pitch and play several high-profile international matches well before the 2030 spectacle.

A civilisational ambition beyond match allocations

While reaffirming the legitimate ambitions of the national bid to host the final against Spanish and Portuguese proposals, the sports executive was keen to frame this effort within the strategic guidelines set by the royal vision. Recalling the significance of the royal message delivered in Kigali during the announcement of the tripartite bid, the official insisted on the human, historical, and civilisational dimension uniting the nations on both shores of the Mediterranean. Jointly hosting the 2030 World Cup represents a unique opportunity to promote togetherness and strengthen cultural bridges between African and European peoples around the universal values of sport.

Chinese investments in Morocco : Ten billion committed to the automotive sector

Morocco is attracting over ten billion dollars in Chinese capital into batteries and renewable energy. Despite this massive effort, no automaker from the Middle Kingdom directly assembles its vehicles there yet.

Asian economic presence on national territory is crossing historical thresholds in high-tech and advanced industrial sectors. According to an analysis published in late October 2026, investment commitments from China to Morocco have passed the symbolic threshold of ten billion dollars. This major financial dynamic focuses primarily on the electric vehicle value chain, including the manufacture of next-generation batteries, the processing of industrial materials, and the development of green energy. In Kénitra, giant Gotion High-Tech is deploying a battery gigafactory for an initial sum of over one billion dollars, while in Jorf Lasfar and Tangier Tech, other major players such as CNGR and BTR are consolidating the national ecosystem.

The absence of direct assembly units from Chinese automakers

Although the Kingdom has established itself as a major automotive assembly hub thanks to the successful operations of the Renault and Stellantis groups, Chinese car brands still do not operate their own production facilities on national soil. The flagship project once led by automaker BYD in Tangier resulted in the abandonment of the assembly plant due to financing constraints and the lack of maturity of charging infrastructure at the time. High-end components and materials thus continue to be manufactured locally to supply international supply chains, without complete vehicles carrying Asian brand names currently rolling off Moroccan assembly lines.

The European customs framework as a major strategic lever

The sustained interest of Beijing’s industrial players in the Moroccan platform is explained by decisive tax and geopolitical stakes facing European Union trade rules. Indeed, electric vehicles exported directly from China to the European continent face standard customs duties combined with surcharges that can reach particularly deterrent levels. By setting up factories in Morocco to benefit from free trade agreements and preferential rules of origin, these industrialists intend to leverage local phosphate resources, the proximity of the Tanger Med port, and the existing network of subcontractors. The upcoming opening of a first complete assembly line would thus represent the ultimate stage of this large-scale industrial cooperation.

Nador West Med and Tanger Med 3 : Morocco accelerates

The Kingdom is strengthening its strategic port infrastructure with the imminent commissioning of the first terminal at Nador West Med and the launch of Tanger Med 3. These projects consolidate the country’s position as a global logistics hub.

The Kingdom is taking a decisive step in consolidating its international maritime and logistics leadership. During a working session chaired on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at the Royal Palace in Rabat by King Mohammed VI, the progress of the Nador West Med port complex and the Tanger Med 3 extension were presented. These two structural projects are part of the royal vision aimed at transforming the Mediterranean coastline into a major engine for economic and industrial attractiveness. Thanks to a massive investment effort combining public and private capital, Morocco is establishing itself more than ever as the preferred gateway and vital crossroads for trade flows between Africa, Europe, and the rest of the world.

Nador West Med: An industrial and energy engine for the Oriental region

Requiring an overall budget of 54 billion dirhams, the Nador West Med complex is preparing to bring its first container terminal into operation in the coming days. With a cumulative capacity that will reach 5.3 million containers per year by 2027, the platform also incorporates a leading energy component featuring a liquefied natural gas terminal and major hydrocarbon storage areas. To open up the Oriental region and connect the port to national networks, strategic motorway and rail links have been deployed from Guercif and Selouane. This industrial hub aims to create tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs by 2035 to stimulate regional development.

Tanger Med 3: Heading towards the top 10 global megaports

In parallel, the imminent start of work on Tanger Med 3 for an investment of 8 billion dirhams extends the exceptional success of the Tangier complex. Featuring 1,200 metres of quays, this new infrastructure will provide an additional capacity of 4.5 million containers per year, operated under a concession granted to shipping line Maersk-APM. Thanks to this major extension, Tanger Med’s overall capacity is projected at 20 million containers annually, elevating the Moroccan port into the top ten largest container platforms on the planet. This reinforced industrial ecosystem accompanies the sustained growth of the automotive sector and supports the country’s integration into global value chains.

Taliouine : Safran harvest mobilises Morocco

In Taroudant province, harvesting red gold requires meticulous know-how passed down through generations of women. Facing climate challenges and labor scarcity, the sector maintains its high standards of quality.

At the heart of Taroudant province, late October marks the launch of an agricultural campaign of extreme precision in the historical cradle of red gold. In Taliouine, an iconic region for national production, hundreds of women gather before dawn to pick the saffron flower during a condensed three-week period. Morning harvesting is a fundamental technical requirement to pick the flowers while still closed and preserve the flavor and aromatic integrity of the precious filaments. This seasonal frenzy perpetuates an ancestral tradition within local cooperatives, where mastery of gesture dictates the reputation of an exceptional spice marketed across the Kingdom and internationally.

A transformation process entirely shaped by hand

The delicacy of this crop requires constant rigor during the steps following picking in the fields. Transported to processing units, the flowers are trimmed by hand to scrupulously extract the three characteristic red filaments, keeping in mind that approximately 140 flowers are required to yield a single gram of dried spice. Drying is then carried out either using controlled dryers to speed up the process, or in sheltered rooms away from direct sunlight for several days. This painstaking manual labor relies on a skilled female workforce that is increasingly difficult to mobilize at the exact moment of flowering.

The resilience of a terroir facing climate hazards

The thriving of the saffron plant relies on very specific soil and climate conditions based on suitable soils and a cool climate, making Taliouine and Taznakht the two main strongholds for this production at the national level. Caring for the corms, which are renewed every six to seven years, requires precise drip-irrigation cycles, particularly in early spring and just before autumn flowering. Although persistent drought in recent years has weighed heavily on yields, recent rainfall in the region has brought welcome relief to producers. This combination of environmental constraints and human effort justifies the exceptional status of the king of spices.