RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – This is where dreams are born. As Morocco approaches its final World Cup qualifier with a ticket to the 2026 tournament already secured, the Complexe Mohammed VI de Football, on the outskirts of Rabat, continues to pulse with activity.
The revival of the Atlas Lions begins here, in a facility spanning 35 hectares, built through the joint effort of the government and the federation, and inaugurated in the summer of 2019 by the King himself. Morocco’s very own “Coverciano” serves as the beating heart of all 27 national teams, men’s and women’s, down to the Under-13 level.
The complex boasts five hotels – one reserved exclusively for senior squads – offering 510 beds, along with 11 pitches of natural, synthetic and hybrid grass to prepare for every playing condition. Add to that a restaurant, a cutting-edge medical centre for treatment and consultations, and a 200-strong staff. Entirely powered by solar and photovoltaic panels, the $75 million project has been praised by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who ranked it among the top three worldwide.
It was here that Real Madrid set up camp in 2023 to prepare for the Club World Cup, and in December, when Morocco hosts the Africa Cup of Nations, it will serve as the headquarters for Achraf Hakimi and his teammates.
“We host all the Federation’s activities,” explains facility director Hassan Kharbouch. “Our vision started 15 years ago, when 145 pitches were built for children and young players across the country. To grow grassroots football, you need infrastructure. At the top of the pyramid, you have us. In between, there are 13 regional academies that bring together the best talents from club academies, and the finest eventually arrive here.”
Step by step, Moroccan football is reaping its rewards: from the men’s national team’s historic fourth-place finish at Qatar 2022, to the women’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations finals, and the Olympic bronze at Paris 2024. These achievements rest on solid foundations.
The centre also benefits from its prime location, just two kilometers from Rabat-Salé airport, making it easily accessible for international arrivals. It hosts workshops and exchange programs through 45 partnerships with federations around the world. And there’s more to life than football: young academy players sleep on-site but continue their studies externally to encourage socialization. Nothing is left to chance: Moroccan football refuses to set limits.
– photo glb/Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
