Casablanca received the best score of the Moroccan candidate cities during the FIFA report on the 2030 World Cup organized jointly between Morocco, Spain and Portugal.
Casablanca is at the head of the Moroccan candidate cities rated by FIFA to host the world competition in 2030. The economic city received a score of 4.3 for its sports infrastructure, for transport, for accommodation capacities and even for spaces dedicated to supporters.
Conversely, Tangier recorded the lowest scores (4.0), particularly for transport (2/5), accommodation (2/5), and spaces for supporters (3/5). However, its sports infrastructures were rated better (4/5).
Six Moroccan stadiums have been selected to host the matches: Stade Hassan II (Casablanca), Stade Moulay Abdallah (Rabat), Grand Stade de Tangier, Grand Stade d’Agadir, Fez Sports Complex, Grand Stade de Marrakech.
The Hassan II Stadium, alongside the iconic Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and Camp Nou in Barcelona, received the highest overall rating (4.3/5) and is in the running to host the opening and closing matches.
The evaluation reports for the 2030 and 2034 editions will be presented at the Extraordinary FIFA Congress scheduled for December 11, 2024. The host countries will be officially designated at this meeting.
The debate launched in Tangier
Since the announcement of the scores awarded by FIFA to candidate cities for the organization of the 2030 World Cup, an intense debate has begun in civil and political circles in Tangier. The city obtained among the weakest results, provoking reactions mixed between surprise and resignation.
Tangier scored 2.2 out of 5 for accommodation and 2.6 for transport, figures which highlight significant infrastructure deficiencies. These results triggered criticism and mockery on social networks, where residents of Tangier expressed their disappointment and pointed the finger at local authorities.
For Youssef Chaba El Hadri, community activist, these notes were predictable. Despite the projects carried out as part of the Tangier Métropole program, the city continues to suffer from significant problems, particularly related to infrastructure and traffic. “ The main arteries are often clogged, particularly in summer, when the situation becomes hellish”he told Hesport.
He also highlighted the rapid and sometimes anarchic growth of the city, citing recent figures from the High Commission for Planning which highlight the demographic challenges facing Tangier.
For his part, Mounir Lemouri, mayor of Tangier, promised to take into account the remarks made by FIFA. He assured that efforts are underway to improve transport infrastructure, including an upcoming contract for a new urban transport system, as well as the upcoming introduction of the high-level bus service (BHNS).
Concerning the hotel industry, Lemouri indicated that measures are being taken to encourage investment in this sector, in particular through administrative simplifications for the creation of new hotel establishments.
The mayor concluded by affirming that these initiatives aim to position Tangier as a city capable of hosting large-scale international events in the best conditions.
