Arab League Pledges Economic Support for Morocco's 2030 World Cup Bid
Doha – The Economic and Social Council of the Arab League has officially extended its economic support to Morocco for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, during its 115th session held on Wednesday.
The council adopted a resolution calling on all member states to back Morocco's efforts in hosting the global sporting event alongside Spain and Portugal.
In addition to World Cup preparations, the council's agenda encompassed several key economic initiatives. Members reviewed the implementation of previous resolutions from the 114th session and discussed the general secretariat's activities between sessions.
The economic and social dossier for the 34th ordinary summit in Baghdad also featured prominently in the discussions, alongside deliberations on Yemen's development needs, the Arab free trade zone, and customs union developments.
The Moroccan delegation at the session was led by Mohamed Ait Ouali, Morocco's ambassador to Cairo and permanent representative to the Arab League, accompanied by representatives from the ministries of Economy and Finance, as well as Industry and Commerce.
The Arab League's commitment joins a series of regional endorsements. In December 2024, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi announced the Gulf states' comprehensive support during his Rabat visit.
'Gulf countries will be fully ready to provide all forms of support and cooperation to Rabat for this event,' Al-Budaiwi stated during a joint press conference with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.
More recently, in a meeting held on February 10, Moroccan Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit and his Spanish counterpart Fernando Grande-Marlaska discussed security preparations for the tournament in Madrid.
Both officials elevated the importance of collaboration between the co-hosting nations to ensure the event's success.
Read also: Morocco Speeds Up Technical Studies on Infrastructure to Prepare for World Cup 2030 Tags: Arab League SupportMorocco 2030World Cup Preparations
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
Barcelona Face Possible Champions League Sanctions
Barcelona could face serious sanctions from UEFA, including a potential points deduction, after allegedly breaching financial rules for a second time. According to a report in The Times, the Spanish club are once again under scrutiny for how they've presented their finances to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. The club had already been fined €500,000 last October for incorrectly including income from so-called 'financial levers' in their profit and loss figures. Those levers involved selling off future earnings, such as a percentage of broadcasting rights, to raise immediate funds. One such deal brought in €267 million after Barcelona agreed to sell 10% of their La Liga TV rights for the next 25 years. However, UEFA ruled those profits couldn't count towards FFP limits, describing them as 'disposal of intangible assets'. Clubs are allowed to lose up to €200 million over three years under FFP, but UEFA's financial control board had warned Barcelona that any further breach would result in tougher punishment. That could now mean squad restrictions for next season's Champions League, or even a points deduction in the new league-format stage of the competition. Chelsea and Aston Villa are also under investigation, though both are expected to escape with fines as first-time offenders. Chelsea are said to have sold their women's team to a related company in an attempt to balance the books – something the Premier League allowed, but UEFA may not. Villa, meanwhile, reportedly spent more than 90% of their revenue on wages, breaching UEFA's squad cost cap, which will be fully enforced from the 2025–26 season. For Barcelona, however, this is a case of repeat offending. Tags: FC BarcelonaFFPFinancial RulesUEFA
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
Badr Benoun Returns to Raja Casablanca
Moroccan international Badr Benoun has sealed a return to Raja Casablanca, rejoining the club where he made his name after four years away. The 31-year-old defender, a product of Raja's academy, was unveiled on Tuesday through the club's official channels. He returns following stints at Al Ahly in Egypt and Qatar SC, bringing with him valuable experience at the highest level of African and Arab football. Benoun left Raja in 2020 to join Al Ahly, where he helped the Cairo club win the CAF Champions League and featured in over 50 competitive matches. He moved to Qatar SC in 2022, making 15 appearances in his final season before becoming a free agent this summer. Raja have not disclosed the length of Banoun's new deal, but his arrival signals a clear intent by the Casablanca side to rebuild their defensive core ahead of the 2025–26 campaign. With ambitions to challenge on both domestic and continental fronts, Banoun's leadership and experience are expected to play a pivotal role. Benoun was also part of Morocco's historic squad at the 2022 World Cup, where the Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals for the first time. Though he did not feature prominently on the pitch, his inclusion underlines the stature he holds within Moroccan football. Raja are also eyeing further reinforcements. Nigerian midfielder Moses Orkuma, formerly of US Monastir, has arrived in Casablanca ahead of a proposed free transfer. According to Africa Foot , the 29-year-old is expected to undergo a medical before signing a two-year contract. Orkuma, who made 36 appearances for Monastir last season, would become the club's second summer signing after Banoun. Raja's early activity in the market reflects a clear intent to return to the summit of African football. Tags: Badr Banounbotola proRaja Casablanca
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
No Country for Old Age? Morocco Stalls at the Edge of a Graying Future
Rabat – As Morocco navigates the 21st century, the country finds itself at the cusp of a quiet but still powerful demographic shift. Declining fertility, rising infertility rates, longer life expectancy, and evolving social structures are all converging to produce one unavoidable reality: Morocco is aging. The country is going through a demographic shift as the number of persons aged 60+ is expected to more than double between 2020-2050. To ensure every person can lead an independent and dignified life at any age, and their communities benefit from the demographic dividend, national policies and systems across all sectors must address the well-being and rights of individuals across this life course. While this trend is not unique to Morocco, the country's particular socio-economic landscape poses unique challenges. With no clearly defined or publicly shared national plan to address the coming 'gray wave,' questions are mounting over whether Morocco is doing enough to prepare for a future where a growing portion of its citizens will be older, more vulnerable, and in need of targeted support. A rapidly aging population Morocco's demographic indicators have shifted dramatically over the past four decades. The fertility rate, for instance, went through fluctuations, all pointing towards a downward trend. According to data from Macrotrends, Morocco's fertility rate has been gradually declining over the past few years. In 2025, it stands at 2.26, marking a 0.92% decrease from 2024. The previous year recorded a rate of 2.28, following a 0.87% drop from 2023. Women are marrying later, often due to rising education levels, economic uncertainty, and changing cultural expectations. As of 2022, the number of marriages in Morocco stood at around 252,000. The number decreased compared to the previous year, when it reached a low of approximately 270,000. Previously, marriages in the country decreased gradually from 2018 to 2020, data from Statista shows. Infertility, too, is on the rise, with a national health survey estimating that over 12% of Moroccan couples face fertility challenges. These trends mean that while Morocco is still classified as a 'young country,' the age structure is evolving fast. According to projections by Morocco's High Commission for Planning (HCP), the population of people aged 60 and over in Morocco is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.3% between 2014 and 2050. Their numbers are expected to more than triple over this period, rising from 3.2 million to 10.1 million. By 2050, this age group would account for 23.2% of the country's total population. The implications are far-reaching, affecting everything from healthcare and pensions to labor markets, housing, and family life. Inadequate infrastructure, the digital divide Despite these clear signals, Morocco's approach to aging remains fragmented and, in many cases, inadequate. Pension systems exist, notably through the Moroccan Pension Fund (CMR) and the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), but their coverage is limited, especially for people who spent their lives working in the informal economy. With many essential services now digitized, older adults face significant barriers. Accessing CNSS benefits, renewing medical cards, or registering for health coverage often requires digital skills and internet access that many senior citizens simply do not have. When they go to CNSS offices to inquire about their pensions or seek basic information, many — if not all — older Moroccans often find themselves unable to even queue without a prior online appointment, a requirement that assumes digital access and literacy. Many of these individuals are frail, unwell, or come from remote areas. They may not own smartphones or know how to use them, and the physical strain of waiting in long lines only adds to their hardship. For the senior population, digital exclusion can mean being effectively locked out of vital services. While digital transformation is an important goal for Morocco's administrative modernization, it currently risks alienating a large and growing segment of the population. Grim reality? Morocco's health system is not yet equipped to meet the needs of an aging population. Geriatric care remains a neglected specialty, with few medical professionals trained specifically to care for older adults. Hospitals and clinics often lack the resources or capacity to deal with age-related conditions, such as dementia, cardiovascular diseases, and mobility issues. Out-of-pocket health expenditures are high in Morocco, creating another layer of vulnerability for seniors, particularly those living alone or without family support. While the rollout of AMO (Compulsory Health Insurance) under CNSS has expanded access to basic healthcare, the system's gaps remain acute. A survey published in January by the market research group Sunergia sheds light on the stark realities of retirement in Morocco, revealing significant gaps and enduring inequalities. While 59% of Moroccans are covered by employer-provided retirement plans, only 5% have secured coverage on their own. Workers in the informal sector and retirees from private companies make up the majority of those with individual plans, with just 10% and 13% in each group reporting independent coverage. More troubling, however, is the finding that 36% of Moroccans have no retirement coverage at all, a figure that soars to 86% among those working in the informal economy, exposing the severe vulnerability of this population. Although the government has been reviewing the pension system to address its shortcomings and improve retirement coverage, many people remain dissatisfied, especially with the ongoing inflation and rising cost of living, as the results have yet to bring noticeable improvements or alleviate widespread concerns about inequality and accessibility. In January, the Civil Pensioners' Organization of Morocco (ORCM) raised serious concerns about the deteriorating conditions retirees are facing across the country. The organization criticized successive governments for neglecting this vulnerable group and showing little regard for the growing financial pressures retirees endured amid ongoing inflation. Their planned protest followed recent government debates on pension reform , which resulted in an approved amendment to the 2025 Finance Bill (PLF 2025) that gradually exempted basic retirement pensions from income tax. Starting in January 2025, retirees receiving basic pensions were set to benefit from a 50% tax reduction, moving toward full exemption by 2026. However, this relief applied only to basic pensions and regulated lifetime annuities; complementary pensions, which tended to be higher due to additional savings, remained taxable to preserve state revenues. Despite this measure, retirees argued that the reform failed to meet their real needs. While it offered them some financial relief, many pensioners continued to struggle with low pensions that did not cover essential living costs like food and daily necessities. Is pension reform enough? Pension reform has long been a recurring issue in Morocco's policy landscape, discussed, debated, and revisited over the years without a definitive resolution. Its persistence reflects both the structural complexity of the system and the wide-reaching consequences of any proposed changes. Despite repeated efforts by successive governments, striking a balance between financial sustainability and social equity has proven elusive, keeping the issue at the forefront of public debate. The government introduced in December last year a new measure under the 2025 Finance Bill (PLF 2025), to ease the financial burden on retirees. The amendment, approved by Parliament, sets out a phased exemption of basic retirement pensions from income tax. Starting in January 2025, beneficiaries under the basic regime began receiving a 50% tax deduction, with a full exemption planned for 2026. Budget Minister Delegate Fouzi Lekjaa described the reform as a step toward alleviating the economic pressure facing Morocco's aging population. However, the measure is limited in scope. It applies only to basic pensions and regulated lifetime annuities, while complementary pensions, which are often higher due to individual savings, remain taxable to preserve fiscal revenue. Although the reform marked a move in the right direction, retirees argued it fell short of meeting their broader demands for a dignified standard of living. Chief among their calls were immediate pension increases, particularly for those in low- and middle-income brackets, as well as stronger representation on pension fund boards and in social service associations across the public and private sectors. Healthcare also remained a critical concern. Pensioners demanded not only improved access to quality medical care but also full exemption from costs not covered by the country's basic health insurance systems (AMO and CNOPS). 'Retirees have contributed to the system throughout their working lives,' many argued, 'and should not be forced to shoulder additional expenses for services they rightfully deserve.' The decline of the traditional family model Morocco's aging challenge is not only institutional but also cultural. For generations, elderly Moroccans relied on their families, particularly daughters and daughters-in-law, for care and companionship. Today, that model is increasingly under strain. Urban migration, emigration, women's increased labor force participation, and rising individualism mean that many elderly Moroccans now live alone or in households where traditional care roles are no longer feasible. The assumption that family will always step in to support the elderly is no longer guaranteed. At the same time, there are few viable alternatives. Morocco lacks a strong network of community-based elder care facilities. Public retirement homes are scarce, underfunded, and often stigmatized. Private facilities, where they exist, are expensive and inaccessible to most. The result is a growing number of elderly people, especially women, left in precarious situations. Some rely on the goodwill of neighbors or distant relatives. Others live in isolation, with limited access to social interaction, mobility, or basic assistance. A missing national vision So far, Morocco has not articulated a comprehensive vision for aging. While the government has introduced some pilot programs, such as awareness campaigns, health screenings, and limited income support initiatives, these remain scattered and often confined to major urban centers. A national aging strategy would need to address multiple fronts. It would also require confronting uncomfortable questions: What happens when traditional caregiving roles no longer hold? How can Morocco create an inclusive society for its elders without placing the burden solely on families? Aging is not a crisis in itself, it is a natural outcome of progress. Longer lives reflect better healthcare, education, and living standards. But without planning, this progress can turn into pressure. Morocco's aging wave is inevitable, but its consequences are not. With thoughtful, inclusive, and forward-looking policy, the country can turn this demographic transition into an opportunity to reimagine how society treats its elders. Without bold leadership and a clear national vision, Morocco risks entering this new era unprepared, leaving its elderly citizens adrift in a system that was not designed with them in mind. Whether this 'silver future' becomes a dignified chapter in Morocco's development or a missed opportunity depends on choices made today.
