Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States Youssef Amrani held talks in Washington with Andrew Giuliani as Rabat and Washington step up coordination ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Maghreb Arab Press.
Giuliani, appointed by Donald Trump, is leading preparations for what is expected to be the largest global sporting event, scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
During the meeting, the US official said that strategic engagement with Morocco is a priority, highlighting the kingdom’s role as a future co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. He also praised Morocco’s football infrastructure, noting that officials from FIFA had expressed admiration for the country’s development model in the sector.
Both sides stressed the importance of close coordination to ensure the success of the 2026 tournament, particularly in managing logistics and security as millions of fans are expected to attend.
The discussions, attended by Simon Bland, reflect broader cooperation between Rabat and Washington in preparing for major international events, with both countries aiming to share expertise and operational approaches.
For his part, Amrani said the World Cup represents a new stage in Morocco-US relations, highlighting the depth of the bilateral partnership as the two countries approach the 250th anniversary of their ties.
He also noted that Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 World Cup gain additional significance as the country is set to take over from the 2026 hosts, reinforcing continuity between the two global tournaments.
The Moroccan ambassador further underlined the importance of ongoing cooperation with US authorities, particularly in the security field, noting that Morocco has been formally invited to join the White House task force dedicated to the World Cup, an indication of the level of trust between the two countries.
The meeting comes as preparations intensify for the 2026 tournament, which is expected to attract unprecedented global demand, with millions of tickets already sold and hundreds of millions of requests recorded during the initial sales phase, according to MAP.
