In another milestone for football in Morocco, the first FIFA Arena mini-pitch has been opened in the North African country as part of the collaboration between FIFA and the OCP Group, a global leader in plant nutrition and phosphate‑based solutions. 

Located at the Omar Ezzahraoui School in Benguerir, the pitch is one of 30 which will be rolled out across the country following the agreement signed in January 2026 between FIFA, the OCP Group, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports of the Kingdom of Morocco. 

In addition, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in a video message played at the inauguration ceremony, announced the creation of the first FIFA Arena Kids Cup Morocco™, culminating with the final in the capital, Rabat, in March 2027.

“I would like to thank Minister Mohamed Nabil Benabdallah and his team at the Ministry of National Education, Pre-School, Vocational Training and Qualification; Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, and his team at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports; the FIFA Council member, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, as well as his team within the Federation; and Mostafa Terrab, chief executive officer of the OCP Group, and his team,” the FIFA President said in his address.  “Your commitment, support and contribution have made this partnership possible, and I would like to congratulate everyone who has helped make this first inauguration a success.” 

The ceremony was attended by the Governor of Rehamna Province, Aziz Bouignane; the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Education, Pre-School, Vocational Training and Qualification, Houssine Kodad; the Managing Director of OCP Strategic Business Unit, Abdelghani Filali; FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer, Gelson Fernandes; FRMF Executive Committee member, Khalil Rouissi; and Moroccan football legends, Marouane Chamakh and Moustapha Hadji.

“The idea is simple: every child deserves somewhere safe to play, because football offers much more than the game itself. Morocco joined this vision from the start,” the FIFA President said.  “Each (pitch) will be more than just a place to play football. FIFA will also provide footballs, bibs and training equipment, and we will be working with our FIFA Football for Schools programme, as well as other FIFA development programmes, to ensure that every pitch can host meaningful activities from day one,” Mr Infantino added.  “I know that our partners share the same objective: to ensure that these sites bring lasting benefits to young people and their communities, whether by promoting women's football or encouraging healthy lifestyles.”

The first FIFA Arena pitch in Morocco was inaugurated in Meknès on 5 November 2025 as the country became the fourth in Africa and the 12th worldwide to join the programme. With the agreement, the OCP Group will help accelerate the rollout of the initiative nationwide. “This programme, whether it’s the FIFA Arena or a neighbourhood pitch, is all about our childhood and those first memories that stay with us, said Moroccan football legend Marouane Chamakh. “I believe it also has a social impact because I would rather see my kids play on a pitch than in the streets. And for us, it remains our first memories. When we were kids, we would have loved to have such a place or a pitch like this.”

Hadji, like Chamakh a former Morocco international, added: “Providing young people with a facility like this is incredibly important. Firstly, even if we don’t make it (professionally) or if we don’t aspire to become a professional footballer, it remains a great facility because it helps educate the children and learn discipline. Football is, first and foremost, about discipline, consistency, making sacrifices, being respectful and working as a team. “So, of course, 30 (pitches) will be installed across Morocco. This will help young people to express themselves and maybe also develop young talents,” he added. “For me, it’s about enjoying life, spending time together as a community and with friends, and having somewhere positive to go instead of hanging around in the wrong places.”

The FIFA delegation also visited the Federal Centre at Benguerir, a talent development centre for young players run by the FRMF. The centre currently accomodates 92 players, at the U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-16 levels who have been recruited from across the country. Five of the players recently played for Morocco at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival™ in Azerbaijan.