The tour of Morocco’s Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit and Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaa to the cities that will host the 2030 World Cup has come to an end, with a meeting in the Red City Marrakech on Wednesday, to review the progress of preparations.
This meeting was the last in a series of similar meetings held in the cities hosting the 2030 World Cup matches, as part of the extensive preparations for the staging of this worldwide sporting event, alongside Spain and Portugal.
The focus of the meeting was on the development projects and infrastructure that should enable Marrakech to be well prepared for this global soccer event, in line with FIFA requirements and standards, particularly in terms of stadium and training sites, transport and mobility, accommodation and sustainable development.
Laftit called on the various stakeholders involved to make every effort and mobilize the financial and human resources needed to speed up the pace of preparations, stressing the importance of making a success of the latter, so that the Red City is ready for this world footballing event.
The city of Marrakech, thanks to its infrastructure, its historical heritage and the various development projects launched by King Mohammed VI, will be a key player in the organization of future world events, including the 2030 World Cup, Lekjaa told the press.
Marrakech has proved a remarkable capacity to host major events throughout the years, with the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund conducted in the city under ideal conditions.
Marrakech commitment to producing and hosting significant events in the future should boost the city’s development momentum in a range of areas, boosting its “unique” cachet on a worldwide scale.
Before Marrakech, Laftit and Lekjaa met with local authorities of Fez, Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, and Agadir, to prepare these cities for the 2030 World Cup.
The historic Koutoubia Mosque, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Marrakech, and the Tinmel Mosque, one of the most revered historical sites in the Great Atlas Mountains, which was constructed in the 12th century AD using stone and dirt by Mehdi Ben Toumert, the first Caliph of the Almohad dynasty, were both damaged by the September 8 earthquake.
UNESCO promised to assist Morocco’s authorities in determining the extent of damage inflicted on heritage sites and educational facilities by the quake, as well as the impact on building integrity