Business leaders from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal gathered in Salé on Tuesday for the inaugural Morocco-Spain-Portugal Business Forum on the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The event aims to align private sector efforts across the three host nations, focusing on joint commercial opportunities, sustainable investment strategies, and the sharing of best practices for the tournament.
The forum attracted representatives from companies of varying sizes operating within sectors integral to major international sporting events. Discussions covered infrastructure development, transportation networks, tourism and hospitality services, logistics coordination, innovation, and digital services. A key objective is to foster a coordinated approach to tournament organization, minimizing duplication and maximizing efficiency.
Organizers highlighted Morocco’s recent experience hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as a valuable case study. The successful execution of that event provides practical lessons in operational planning and stakeholder management that can be adapted for the World Cup. Participants underscored that cross-border collaboration, innovative solutions, and integrated planning are essential to amplify the social and economic benefits for all host regions.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be a historic event, marking the first time the tournament is hosted across three continents. The opening matches in June-July 2030 will be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay—designated by FIFA as “Centenary Celebration Matches”—before the core phase of the competition shifts to the primary host nations: Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Fawzi Lekjaa, Morocco’s Minister Delegate for the Budget and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, stated the forum establishes a vital platform. He noted it is designed to unify expertise, stimulate public-private cooperation, and generate sustainable, long-term value well beyond the final match.
The discussions in Salé represent a significant step in transitioning from national planning to a synchronized trilateral strategy. The focus now shifts to developing concrete joint ventures and investment frameworks that can leverage the global spotlight of the 2030 World Cup to drive enduring regional development.
