Rabat, Morocco – The global football community recently converged in Morocco’s vibrant capital for a landmark FIFA Knowledge Exchange Workshop, a pivotal event aimed at fostering collaboration and accelerating football development across continents. Hosted by the FIFA office in Rabat, the gathering brought together key sports officials and representatives from ten member associations spanning Africa and Europe, underlining a shared commitment to advancing the beautiful game.
A Confluence of Continents for Football’s Future
The workshop, held on Monday, served as a dynamic platform for robust discussions, insightful presentations, and invaluable experience sharing. Delegations from African nations including Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, and Cabo Verde joined European counterparts from Turkiye, Iceland, Switzerland, Poland, and Croatia. This diverse assembly engaged in deep dives into critical aspects of national team development, the intricacies of hosting major international football events, and the strategic management of high-performance training centers.
A significant highlight of the event was a comprehensive site visit to Morocco’s state-of-the-art Mohammed VI National Technical Center. This tour provided participants with first-hand exposure to world-class infrastructure and operational excellence, offering practical insights into the successful implementation of advanced training facilities.
FIFA President Praises Morocco’s Vision
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, present at the workshop, extended a warm welcome to all delegates, commending the FIFA office in Rabat for its impressive setup. He underscored football’s universal appeal, describing it as a “global game” that presents unique challenges requiring an “open mind and open spirit” to propel it forward.
Infantino reserved particular praise for Morocco, congratulating the kingdom on its “fantastic” hosting of the recent AFCON. He lauded the nation’s deployment of “modern stadiums” and world-class venues, stating, “It made me very proud to see first-hand the progress in African football infrastructure and experience the wonderful hospitality.” His remarks reinforced Morocco’s growing stature as a leading footballing nation and a capable host for major international tournaments.
Building Bridges Through Shared Expertise
The spirit of collaboration was echoed by other prominent figures. Stipe Pletikosa, Technical Director of the Croatian Football Federation, hailed the workshop as a “great initiative.” He emphasized the importance of such exchanges:
“These knowledge exchanges help us build bridges, including football bridges, to make the game more successful and truly global. It is extremely valuable to hear the experiences of other member associations, especially on different topics, and equally important is the bonding we are creating together.”
Robert Breiter, General Secretary of the Swiss Football Federation, also highlighted the immense value of the shared knowledge, particularly concerning technical centers. “We had an exchange, for example, about national technical centres, and here in Switzerland we are in the process of building one; so it’s very interesting to listen to federations that are also going through the same process or those that have already completed theirs,” Breiter explained. He further described his visit to the Mohammed VI Complex as a “magnificent showcase,” noting that it provided “new ideas and opens up perspectives” for Switzerland’s own development plans.
Morocco’s Growing Influence
The workshop not only showcased Morocco’s advanced football infrastructure but also solidified its position as a key player in global football development. By facilitating such crucial dialogues and sharing its own best practices, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) continues to contribute significantly to the collective progress of the sport, reinforcing the notion that collaboration is the cornerstone of future success.
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