The second “Laayoune Forum for Media in the Middle East and North Africa” concluded on Monday with a call for the creation of a media alliance uniting African and Middle Eastern outlets to promote Morocco’s role in the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The forum lasted from December 21 to 23 and was part of the “Sakia El Hamra Declaration,” which urged leveraging Morocco’s hosting of the 2030 World Cup to showcase the Kingdom’s history, civilization, heritage, cultural diversity, and social values.
The declaration recognizes the immense opportunities that hosting the world’s biggest sporting event presents. The Laayoune Forum seeks to funnel all of the increased attention on Morocco and its potential benefits and channel them through an efficient media “alliance,” including local, national, and international media.
Participants at the forum recognized the gains of Morocco’s joint hosting of the tournament with Spain and Portugal, viewing it as more than just a sporting event. If managed effectively, Morocco will establish a bridge for human, cultural, and historical interaction between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
Supported by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, in collaboration with the Wilaya of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra and the “Phosboucraa Foundation,” the forum allowed regional journalists to explore Morocco’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and its co-hosting 2030 World Cup.