Atlas Lions depart for the United States to participate in the 2026 World Cup
via Le Matin2 min read
The Atlas Lions departed for the United States on Wednesday to participate in the 2026 World Cup. The national team, its technical staff, and the Moroccan delegation were seen off at Rabat-Sal茅 Airport before boarding a special Royal Air Maroc flight from Rabat to New York-JFK. The National Airports Office ONDA organized a ceremony for their departure, with players walking through a guard of honor formed by ONDA staff, including reception agents, facilitation teams, technicians, engineers, airfield firefighters, and executives. ONDA stated that its teams are mobilized alongside the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to ensure optimal travel conditions for national teams and Moroccan supporters during the 2026 World Cup. This initiative follows a strategic partnership signed in March between ONDA and FRMF, aimed at improving reception and mobility conditions for national teams, strengthening logistical support for sports delegations, and promoting Morocco's international image through sports. This departure is also symbolic, illustrating the mobilization of national institutions around Morocco's sporting ambitions and international image, especially as the Kingdom prepares to host major sporting events like the 2030 World Cup. Mohamed Ouahbi's team will represent Morocco in this global campaign, carrying the hopes of the nation.
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Morocco has introduced a new system to subject digital services provided by foreign companies to Moroccan customers to Value Added Tax VAT. This mechanism, which came into effect on June 11, 2026, with the launch of the "Taxation on digital services" teleservice by the General Directorate of Taxes DGI, aims to integrate the digital economy into the Moroccan tax system. It ensures that foreign providers adhere to similar rules as Moroccan-based companies. The decree, published in the Official Bulletin of December 2025, applies to non-resident companies offering remote electronic services to non-VAT-registered individuals in Morocco. This includes platforms like Netflix, Spotify, ChatGPT, Google, Meta Facebook and Instagram, certain services from Uber and Airbnb, cloud computing, online software, paid applications, and other digital subscriptions. To determine a customer's location in Morocco, factors such as a Moroccan bank card, billing address, IP address, or phone number may be used. Affected foreign providers must register with the DGI, obtain a Moroccan tax identifier, declare quarterly turnover in Morocco, and pay the corresponding VAT electronically. They are also required to maintain records of transactions with Moroccan customers for ten years. While the new system mandates foreign providers to pay VAT, it does not compel them to increase their prices. Each company can choose to absorb the tax or pass it on, fully or partially, to customers. If the 20% VAT is fully pa