Spanish media reports say Morocco is pursuing an ambitious football project that could bring together Spanish football legends Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández within the country’s long-term strategy to develop its national football system.
According to the Spanish newspaper OKDIARIO, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has not abandoned plans to appoint Iniesta as a sporting director, despite negotiations stalling in recent months over financial disagreements.
The report indicates that the project could be revisited after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Moroccan football authorities evaluate the national team’s performance and future strategic direction.
If the plan materializes, Iniesta’s arrival could pave the way for Xavi Hernández to eventually take charge of the Moroccan national team, as part of a broader technical project aimed at preparing the team for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Spanish media say the Moroccan federation is considering a long-term cycle that would run from 2026 to 2030, allowing enough time to build a cohesive sporting structure around the national team and the broader football development system.
The same reports note that Xavi typically prefers to join projects from their early planning stages rather than taking over a national team only months before a major tournament, which could explain why discussions are framed around a longer timeline.
According to OKDIARIO, Iniesta’s appointment within the Moroccan federation was previously close to completion, with an official announcement reportedly prepared and even circulated to some media outlets before the deal collapsed shortly before its expected confirmation.
Iniesta had also attended the Africa Cup of Nations final as a guest of King Mohammed VI, which fueled speculation at the time about a potential role for the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder in Morocco’s football structure.
Spanish media describe Morocco’s approach as part of a broader strategy that has been under development for years, focusing on strengthening infrastructure, improving talent identification systems, and modernizing technical methodologies across the country’s football ecosystem.
The strategy also places significant emphasis on scouting Moroccan players in the diaspora, particularly those based in Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, in order to expand the national talent pool.
Reports suggest the Moroccan federation has also invested heavily in technological systems to monitor and track player development, allowing officials to maintain detailed databases on players both domestically and abroad.
These efforts are seen as part of Morocco’s broader ambition to consolidate its position as a rising football power, particularly as the country prepares to host the 2030 World Cup alongside its European partners.
In that context, Spanish media say bringing together figures such as Iniesta and Xavi could add an international dimension to Morocco’s football project and potentially transfer elements of Spain’s football expertise into the Moroccan system.
