Morocco’s hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations this weekend has highlighted the country’s growing stature in African football and its preparations to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

On the field, the Atlas Lions reached their first AFCON final in 22 years, facing Senegal on Sunday. The team, captained by African player of the year Achraf Hakimi and ranked 11th globally, follows their 2022 World Cup semi-final appearance, the first for an African and Arab nation. “Our objective is to be back here in two years, and again in four years. To do this on a regular basis,” coach Walid Regragui said ahead of the final.

Moroccan football has recorded additional successes in recent years, including victories in the Arab Cup, Under-20 World Cup, Under-17 AFCON, and the African Nations Championship, alongside a men’s Olympic bronze in 2024.

Morocco is drawn in a World Cup group with Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, and several current players are expected to feature in 2030.

Off the field, Morocco’s organisation of AFCON has drawn praise from CAF president Patrice Motsepe and visiting coaches. The country has avoided the logistical and safety issues that affected previous tournaments, including the 2022 event in Cameroon, with well-maintained pitches despite winter rain.

Infrastructure improvements have included the Al Boraq high-speed rail network connecting Casablanca to Tangiers, and stadium upgrades are ongoing. Venues earmarked for 2030 include the 69,000-seat Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, a 75,000-capacity ground in Tangiers, and the under-construction Hassan II Stadium outside Casablanca, which will hold 115,000 spectators. CAF president Motsepe has indicated that Morocco could host the 2030 final.

Construction of six stadiums is expected to cost around 15.5 billion dirhams ($1.68 billion), with further investment in rail, airport facilities, and 5G networks to accommodate an influx of international visitors. FIFA president Gianni Infantino reportedly stated last September that Morocco “could practically host the World Cup today.”

Some challenges remain, including ticketing issues during AFCON, which saw fans admitted free to certain group matches. Fouzi Lekjaa, Moroccan Minister in charge of the Budget and president of the national football federation, highlighted the difference in scale, noting that while AFCON attracted around one million visitors, the World Cup will see more than 10 million.

The tournament in Morocco has thus served both as a showcase of the national team’s quality and a practical test of infrastructure and logistics ahead of 2030.