Marrakech – Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) and National Airports Authority (ONDA) signed a strategic partnership agreement on Wednesday at Rabat-Salé Airport. The deal aims to improve travel services for national teams and sports delegations.
FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaa and ONDA Director General Adel El Fakir signed the convention, which establishes the airports authority as an institutional partner of the federation in managing the mobility of national squads across all categories.
Under the agreement, ONDA will provide advanced logistical services at Moroccan airports for traveling teams. The deal also covers coordination mechanisms for hosting major football competitions, facilitating the movement of participating delegations, and raising service quality for sports travelers.
The partnership comes as the ONDA is executing one of the largest airport overhaul programs in Morocco’s history. The agency signed a $3.8 billion agreement with the government to upgrade and expand key airports as part of its Airports 2030 strategy. The plan aims to nearly double national airport capacity from 36.6 million passengers in 2025 to 80 million per year by 2030.
The overhaul targets Morocco’s busiest hubs. At Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, a new terminal worth an estimated $1.28 billion is set to raise annual capacity from 15 million to 35 million passengers by 2030.
ONDA has also awarded $440 million in contracts for expansions at Marrakech-Menara and Agadir Al Massira airports, with additional upgrades planned for Tangier and Fez.
Royal Air Maroc, the country’s national carrier, is expanding its fleet from around 50 aircraft to 200 by 2037 under a state-backed development plan.
These investments are driven by Morocco’s preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. The Casablanca terminal will serve as an African hub and connect to a high-speed train network linking Kenitra to Marrakech. Most projects are scheduled for delivery before 2028, with the Casablanca expansion expected to be completed in 2029.
The Grand Stade Hassan II, currently under construction in the commune of El Mansouria in Benslimane Province, is set to become the largest football stadium in the world. Designed by Populous and Oualalou + Choi, the venue will have a capacity of 115,000 spectators.
The FRMF-ONDA agreement fits within this broader infrastructure push. It positions both institutions to coordinate ahead of an intense period of international football on Moroccan soil. The convention also reflects efforts to strengthen Morocco’s image as a continental and global sports destination.
Both parties said in a joint statement that the initiative supports Morocco’s sporting influence and consolidates its position as a major sports hub in Africa and the world.
