The Moroccan Government put more than 1.5 billion of euros the direct income of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025, held in Moroccowhich made it possible to prepare 80% of the infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup, which the country will co-organize with Spain and Portugal.
The Moroccan Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ryad Mezzour, highlighted in statements given to EFE and “double effect” in income and investments, driven by nearly 600,000 tournament-specific visitors, which are part of a record year for Moroccan tourism with 20 million arrivals (+14%).
These flows have boosted transportation, hospitality, restaurants and crafts, with an immediate injection of liquidity into the local economy.
The money that Morocco has invested in the African Cup
Ryad Mezzour rated the 2.3 billion of euros invested in that edition of the African Cup, which concluded last Sunday, as a “sovereign investment“in lasting infrastructure, such as the nine stadiums built or rehabilitated, as well as road networks, airports and services.
“We have gained a decade of development in 24 months (…) and we provide the Kingdom with infrastructure that will serve citizens for the next 50 years“he stated.
He stressed that the impact on employment is “reason for pride“. The African Cup, won by the national team of Senegalallowed the creation of more than 100,000 jobs. “These are not just temporary jobs: thousands of young people have been trained according to international standards, acquiring lasting employability beyond 2025“, accurate.
The minister explained that more than 3,000 industrial companies participated in the works. Furthermore, he added that the African Cup accelerated technological transformation in Morocco with the deployment of 5G, digital identification systems, digital ticketing and cybersecurity solutions.
These initiatives allowed us to reduce logistics costs and attract new investments.
He explained that with an audience of 2 billion viewers and 10 billion views on social networks, Morocco showed its capacity to organize major international events, such as the 2030 World Cup, for which 80% of the main infrastructure is already prepared thanks to the African Cup.
The remaining 20% for the World Cup includes the extension of the high-speed train line (LGV, which currently links Casablanca and Tangier) to Marrakech and Agadir, the increase in hotel capacity and the construction of the Grand Stadium of Casablanca.
