🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Didier Deschamps includes Morocco among 2026 World Cup title contenders
via Le Matin2 min read
Didier Deschamps, coach of the French national team, has named Morocco as a potential contender for the 2026 World Cup title. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Deschamps cited Morocco alongside Spain, Germany, England, Portugal, Argentina, and Brazil as teams capable of winning the competition, noting their continuous progress. Deschamps, who has led the French team since 2012, highlighted that a team's favorite status is built on results, squad quality, and consistent high-level performance. The Atlas Lions' progression has been significant, particularly since their historic run to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they became the first African and Arab nation to achieve this feat. Their recent continental triumph, strong youth team performances, and a record 19 consecutive wins have further solidified their status. Morocco, once considered an outsider, is now seen as a team capable of consistently competing among the world's elite. They are set to begin their 2026 World Cup campaign on June 13 against Brazil, in Group C which also includes Scotland and Haiti, facing high expectations.
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Rabat is set to host the 20th edition of the Mohammed VI Karate Cup, the fourth and final stage of the "Karate 1 Premier League" world circuit. Organized by the Royal Moroccan Karate and Associated Disciplines Federation FRMK, the event will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Palace. Over 1,200 participants from more than 80 countries, including international stars, are expected to compete. The competition, which has become a prestigious global karate event, will feature kata and kumite events for both men and women. Competitions begin this Friday with preliminary rounds, culminating in live-broadcast finals on Sunday. Several world champions and top-ranked international karatekas are anticipated to participate. Morocco will be represented by prominent athletes such as Saïd Oubaya -67 kg, named Moroccan Sportsman of the Year 2025, Mehdi Sriti -84 kg, Hamza Sam -75 kg, Nisrine Brouk -68 kg, and Aya En-Nesyry in kata. Moroccan athletes aim to build on recent international successes, including bronze medals for Aya En-Nesyry and Hamza Sam in Rabat in 2025, and a Premier League gold medal for Nisrine Brouk in Istanbul. Beyond the sporting results, the Mohammed VI Cup aims to enhance Morocco's international standing through sport, bringing together delegations, officials, partners, and institutional representatives from around the world, while showcasing national sports infrastructure and Moroccan hospitality.
ONEE, Morocco's National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water, has secured a 250 million euro funding package from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD. A letter of intent was signed by Tarik Hamane, Director General of ONEE, Matteo Patrone, Vice President of the EBRD, and Said Jabrani, Director General of the National Company for Guarantee and Business Financing SNGFE. The signing took place during the EBRD Annual Meetings held from June 5 to 7, 2026, in Riga, Latvia. This funding will support ONEE's 2025-2030 equipment plan, which includes significant investments to enhance the technical performance of existing drinking water production facilities and integrate improved energy efficiency standards. The SNGFE will guarantee this financing as part of its program for public establishments and enterprises. This collaboration builds on a partnership initiated in 2014, during which the EBRD mobilized nearly 119 million euros for the drinking water sector managed by ONEE, including a 65 million euro project focused on improving ONEE's water activities, which is nearing completion with positive results. This new phase of cooperation underscores the commitment of ONEE and the EBRD to strengthening Morocco's water security and improving infrastructure resilience against climate challenges.
The National Association of Poultry Meat Producers ANPC has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating economic situation for Moroccan poultry farmers. A communiqué released on June 8 highlights that the price of live chicken has fallen below 7 dirhams per kilogram, while production costs range from 15 to 17 dirhams per kilogram. This significant disparity is causing substantial losses for farmers, who are forced to sell their produce below cost, threatening the survival of many farms. The ANPC attributes this crisis to a lack of effective market regulation, insufficient protection for small producers, and the proliferation of speculative practices and intermediation, which destabilize the sector and reduce profitability. The association warns that the continued weakening of producers could impact the national market's protein supply and lead to the disappearance of farms, affecting future product availability and price stability for consumers. The ANPC is urging public authorities to intervene swiftly, calling for an investigation into market dysfunctions, stronger controls against speculative practices and monopolies, and greater involvement of farmer representatives in sectoral policy-making. The organization emphasizes the strategic importance of the poultry sector for the country's food sovereignty and the livelihoods of thousands of families.