The ambitious infrastructure, investment, and construction initiatives launched for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are key components of a broader strategy to lay a robust foundation for the 2030 World Cup. This was emphasized by Fouzi Lekjaa, Deputy Minister in charge of the Budget, during a session in Rabat on Friday. «The projects tied to AFCON 2025 are seamlessly woven into a strategic framework aimed at gearing up for the 2030 World Cup. This approach not only ensures a lasting legacy but also maximizes the development of Morocco's sports, economic, and territorial sectors», stated Lekjaa at a ministerial conference focused on the theme «World Cup 2030: Financial, Institutional, and Strategic Challenges», held at the National School of Administration (ENSA). He revealed that an investment of approximately 150 billion dirhams (MMDH) is being funneled into key sectors, including the construction of a drinking water treatment plant with a capacity of 2 billion cubic meters, designed to meet both industrial and domestic demands. Continuing in this vein, Lekjaa highlighted that the financing of transport infrastructure is anchored in public-private partnerships (PPPs), complemented by an annual state subsidy of about 1.6 MMDH until 2030, ensuring the projects' continuity and financial sustainability. He underscored the significance of mobility between host cities, noting, «The development of the high-speed rail line (LGV) and the regional express network (RER) is actively progressing, particularly to link Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, and the southern provinces, fostering the Kingdom's territorial and economic integration». Addressing the financial framework, he assured that it is crafted to avoid burdening the general state budget. He elaborated, «An innovative financing and operational model, in collaboration with the Deposit and Management Fund (CDG) and the National Company for the Realization and Management of Sports Facilities (SONARGES), facilitates a 20-year amortization, ensuring the sustainability of investments». Furthermore, Fouzi Lekjaa announced that the construction of the two stadiums designated for AFCON 2025 will adhere to a strict timeline, with the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat slated for completion by July 31 and the Grand Stadium in Tangier by August 15.
