🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Morocco and Brazil ambassadors discuss football diplomacy ahead of World Cup match
via Le Matin5 min read
Ahead of the highly anticipated match between Morocco and Brazil in the FIFA 2026 World Cup, the ambassadors of both countries in Washington, Youssef Amrani of Morocco and Maria Luisa Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil, participated in a 90-minute discussion on "The Power of Sport in Diplomacy." The event was organized by the American think tank Atlantic Council. Both ambassadors highlighted that the people of Morocco and Brazil are united by a shared passion for football, emphasizing that the relationship between the two nations has strong potential for further strengthening due to their convergences and economic complementarities. Ambassador Amrani spoke about sport as a tool for influence, fostering connections between people, and enhancing nations' international presence. He stated that football is a universal language capable of transcending borders, cultures, and divisions. He shared that after nearly fifty years in diplomacy, he has learned that football can open doors and build connections in 90 minutes that diplomacy sometimes takes years to achieve. Amrani also praised the United States' preparations for the 2026 World Cup, noting its symbolic timing with the 250th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Morocco and the United States. He also highlighted the historical significance of the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, positioning Morocco as a link between Africa, Europe, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean. Amrani further elaborated o
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
FIFA has announced a new pre-match ceremony format for the 2026 World Cup, designed to enhance visibility and fan engagement. The stadium will transform into a 360-degree stage, ensuring all spectators can view the ceremony. Giant banners, flags, and visual elements representing the two competing nations will be placed on the field. Players will enter the pitch with children from the youth program, passing through an arch near their tunnel. A large banner will be installed in the center circle, where both teams will gather for the national anthems. A significant change is that all players from both teams, not just the starting eleven, will be present in the center of the field for the national anthems. FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes this new ceremony will strengthen unity among players, referees, and fans, creating a moment of unity, pride, and emotion. Following the anthems, traditional rituals will resume, including handshakes, official team photos, and the coin toss by the captains. For later stages of the competition, FIFA plans to incorporate additional visual effects, such as colored smoke and pyrotechnics, to further amplify the pre-match ceremonies.
A partnership agreement was signed in Rabat between the Moroccan Foundation for Financial Education, the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration DGAPR, and the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Detainees. The ceremony was presided over by Abdellatif Jouahri, Wali of Bank Al-Maghrib and Chairman of the Board of the Moroccan Foundation for Financial Education; Mohamed Salah Tamek, Delegate General for Prison Administration and Reintegration; and Abdelouahed Jamali Idrissi, General Coordinator of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Detainees. This agreement aims to establish a financial literacy training program for inmates in penitentiary establishments. The program seeks to enhance their knowledge of resource management, financial planning, and access to financial services, enabling them to make informed decisions post-release. The training will primarily target inmates scheduled for short-term release, project initiators, and those who have obtained university degrees or qualifications during their incarceration. The curriculum will cover budget management, available financial services, access conditions, and risks associated with misuse. This initiative is part of broader efforts to prepare inmates for social and professional reintegration, providing them with practical tools to rebuild their lives, secure their projects, and reduce the risk of reoffending after release.
TAQA Morocco, primarily known for its energy sector activities, is expanding its societal commitment to address water challenges in Morocco. On World Environment Day, the TAQA Morocco for Community program announced a call for expressions of interest focused on innovation in sustainable and responsible water resource management. This initiative comes as Morocco faces increasing pressure on its water resources due to prolonged droughts, irregular rainfall, and rising demand. Rural areas particularly struggle with access to drinking water, water quality, treatment, and loss reduction. The call for projects seeks practical, field-adapted solutions. Project proponents should propose initiatives to secure access to drinking water in vulnerable areas, improve water treatment and quality, or better manage available resources by limiting losses. The program emphasizes solutions utilizing new technologies, such as sensors, data, and artificial intelligence, to monitor consumption, detect leaks, control water quality, and improve network management in rural territories. The call for expressions of interest is open to Moroccan startups in the seed or development phase, as well as students, doctoral candidates, and young researchers from universities and research centers. Applications can be submitted individually or in groups, allowing for the collaboration of technical, scientific, and entrepreneurial profiles. Two prizes will be awarded: one for startups and another for researchers wi
Must ReadA new study, "The Family Business in Morocco in Figures," conducted by the Institute of Family Business of Morocco IEF-Maroc with support from the International Finance Corporation IFC, reveals that 92.9% of active businesses in Morocco are family-owned. These enterprises employ approximately 6.3 million people, representing 65% of the private sector workforce, and contribute 60.5% to the national added value. The study, presented at a conference in Casablanca, highlighted the critical role of family businesses while also exposing a major challenge: only one in twenty family businesses survives beyond two intergenerational transfers. This fragility is evident in governance structures, with three-quarters of family businesses managed exclusively by family members, and a third having a board composed solely of relatives. Kacem Bennani-Smires, President of IEF-Maroc, emphasized the importance of preparing for succession to preserve family legacies and national heritage. Cheick-Oumar Sylla, IFC Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, echoed this sentiment, stating that failed transmissions erase a part of family and Moroccan history. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Commerce, urged family business leaders to embrace technological advancement and international expansion to create new value. The conference also saw the signing of an agreement between IEF-Maroc and Maroc PME to deploy a specific support mechanism for family business succession, marking a fir