Morocco sees $1B Africa Cup windfall, fuels debate over 2030 World Cup impact

Moroccan government figures showing that the country earned more than 1 billion euros from hosting the 35th Africa Cup of Nations have sparked debate among economists over the scale and nature of the economic boost Morocco could achieve from co-hosting the 2030 World Cup.

Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour told Spain’s EFE news agency that hosting the Africa Cup generated direct revenues exceeding 1 billion euros, attracted hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors and had a positive impact on tourism, transport and service sectors. He said the tournament also created tens of thousands of jobs, while investments made in infrastructure linked to the competition should be viewed as long-term strategic assets rather than short-term spending tied solely to a sporting event.

Economic analyst Khalid Hammas said major international events do not deliver benefits limited to immediate financial returns, but also produce strong gains in a country’s international image. Speaking to Hespress, he said such events enhance Morocco’s global visibility and open broader investment opportunities, particularly in infrastructure such as roads, airports and hotels.

Hammas noted that upgrading tourism services and training workers in hospitality and tour guiding directly increases foreign currency revenues. He stressed that a country’s reputation plays a decisive role in attracting tourists and investors, who increasingly compare destinations based on organizational capacity and global standing.

Over the medium and long term, Hammas said Morocco is likely to see tangible economic benefits in transport and tourism, as well as in the traditional crafts sector, which employs nearly five million Moroccans. He said this economic momentum could have a direct impact on national income and help create sustainable growth across related industries.

On sports infrastructure, Hammas called for a strategic approach to ensure stadiums and facilities remain active year-round by diversifying their use beyond football. He said this would help cover maintenance and operating costs by generating independent revenue streams through hosting multiple sports and events.

Another economist, Mohamed Jedri, said Morocco is using the Africa Cup and the 2030 World Cup as strategic tools to achieve its long-term economic vision for 2035, rather than treating them as purely sporting goals.

Jedri said the objective is to double Morocco’s gross domestic product to more than $260 billion, compared with about $130 billion currently. He added that the strategy also aims to raise women’s labor force participation to 45 percent, reduce regional disparities from 45 percent to 30 percent by 2035, increase average incomes to about 13,000 dirhams and achieve annual growth rates of up to 8 percent.

He said Morocco is also targeting 26 million tourists annually, the production of 2 million vehicles, and stronger food, energy and pharmaceutical sovereignty. Jedri described major sporting events as key accelerators for reaching these development goals over the medium and long term.

Preparatory projects linked to the tournaments have already created hundreds of thousands of jobs in communications, advertising, event management and infrastructure, he said. During the Africa Cup, hotels, cafés and airlines experienced exceptional demand, contributing to increased economic activity.

Jedri said the positive impact will extend beyond the World Cup itself, as Morocco’s global image is strengthened across more than 180 countries, helping attract foreign investment. He added that Moroccans will be the primary beneficiaries of long-term projects such as high-speed rail, highways and major infrastructure that generate lasting economic value.