🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Moroccan fans face significant financial hurdles for 2026 World Cup due to high ticket, travel, and accommodation costs
via Le Matin3 min read
Moroccan football supporters face substantial financial challenges to follow the Atlas Lions at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the North American tournament presents a significant financial odyssey. Ticket prices are aligned with North American purchasing power, making them largely unaffordable for the average Moroccan fan. While some Category 4 tickets exist around 600 dirhams, they are scarce, pushing fans towards more expensive options. For example, tickets for the match against Brazil on June 13 at MetLife Stadium range from $120 to $1,725. Matches against Scotland and Haiti are slightly more accessible, with premium seats between $700 and $1,200. A limited number of "Supporter" tickets are available for $60 through the FRMF. Accommodation costs have surged, with prices in host cities increasing by over 300% since the schedule announcement. In Vancouver, a night's stay averages $1,450 on match days, and some hotels near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey are charging up to $1,500 per night, compared to less than $300 normally. Transportation is also expensive; official FIFA parking averages $175, reaching $300 in Los Angeles. Public transport fares have also increased significantly, such as a round-trip train ticket to MetLife Stadium rising from $13 to $150 for the event. Even the Moroccan diaspora in North America faces challenges due to vast distances, costly domestic travel, and limited time off work.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 10 countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The second edition of the "Faces of Morocco of Excellence" awards, held in Casablanca on April 15, 2026, recognized ten Moroccan talents for their international achievements. Supported by the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad, the event highlighted individuals who contribute to Morocco's global presence across various strategic sectors. Honorees included Ambassador Samira Sitail, astrophysicist Meriem Elyajouri from NASA, composer Youssef Guezoum, triathlete Badr Siwane, coach Tarik Sektioui, and actress Mouna Fettou. A notable recognition went to Khadija Bendam for her election as president of the International Nuclear Societies Council INSC, marking a global first and demonstrating Moroccan leadership in nuclear governance. Her work with CNESTEN in safety and security audits further solidifies her role in international standards. The "Faces of Morocco" initiative, founded by Hind Chaouat, aims to connect diaspora talents with their home country and showcase inspiring journeys, projecting an image of Morocco as an open, connected, and excellence-driven nation on the international stage.
Morocco is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into the practical driving license exam through a project called "Smart Drive Test." This initiative, under discussion since 2018 between the National Road Safety Agency NARSA and sector representatives, was re-evaluated in February 2026. Mustapha El Haji, president of the Moroccan Federation of Driving Instructors and School Owners, explained that the system involves "smart cars" equipped with sensors and software to analyze driving in real-time, identify errors, and automatically assign a score. The primary goal is to reduce human bias in evaluation, addressing concerns about favoritism and inconsistent assessments. However, El Haji cautions against premature generalization, citing structural deficiencies in current examination centers. He notes that only 19 to 20 of Morocco's 74 centers have closed tracks suitable for practical exams, with most candidates still taking tests in open, often busy, traffic conditions. He emphasizes that basic conditions must be met nationwide before implementing such advanced technology to ensure fair and standardized exams. The project is currently in the study and consultation phase, with no official deployment date announced.
A meeting was held in Rabat last week, initiated by the Brazilian Embassy in Morocco, to discuss strengthening cooperation in women's entrepreneurship between Brazil and Morocco. The event, organized around International Women's Day, brought together institutional actors, experts, and women entrepreneurs to foster concrete and lasting partnerships. Ambassador of Brazil to Morocco, Alexandre Guido Lopes Parola, emphasized that women's full participation in the economy is crucial for societal prosperity and highlighted the potential of the Morocco-Brazil partnership for sharing expertise and creating synergies. Leïla Doukali, president of the Association of Women Business Leaders of Morocco, stressed the strategic importance of this initiative, noting that women entrepreneurs still face structural obstacles like access to financing and sociocultural constraints. She called for strengthening cooperation mechanisms, including mentorship programs and business bridges, to overcome these challenges. Brazilian author Giselle Hardt highlighted Morocco's role as an inspiration and intercultural dialogue space. The discussions underscored the need to invest in women's skills and reinforce their presence in various productive sectors as essential actors for sustainable and inclusive economic development.
Must ReadIgnacio Ramonet delivered conferences in Casablanca and Rabat, organized by the daily "Al Bayane," where he analyzed the evolution of information and global power dynamics. He began by placing artificial intelligence within the broader history of media, drawing parallels between the printing press and AI, noting that while printing industrialized writing, AI industrializes reasoning itself. Ramonet emphasized that communication technologies are not neutral, citing Nazi Germany's use of radio for propaganda as an example. He argued that journalism, historically, has not always prioritized truth, and we are now entering a "post-truth" era where facts are less self-evident, and social media increasingly shapes information consumption. He also highlighted the shift in information production centers from traditional media to digital platforms, leading to "data extractivism" where individuals unknowingly provide raw material for content generation. Ramonet stated that "the battle against artificial intelligence is lost," advocating for a return to rigorous journalism to discern reliable information. In his second conference, Ramonet discussed the progressive decline of European powers, illustrating this with an example of the UK's inability to quickly deploy a warship during a Middle East military escalation. He noted that neither France nor Germany now shape global balances, with the center of gravity shifting to actors like the United States and China. The new space race, particu