The Moroccan city of Fes will welcome in the coming weeks a FIFA delegation for an extensive evaluation of its sports facilities and infrastructure ahead of hosting the 2030 World Cup in a joint bid with Portugal and Spain.
The inspection will focus on key sites such as the Grand Stade de Fes, which could serve as one of the primary venues for the tournament.
FIFA officials will also assess proposed training sites for teams, alongside hotel facilities that will be expected to accommodate players, staff, and thousands of fans.
The visit from FIFA officials will be the first inspection since Morocco officially submitted its joint bid for the 2030 World Cup. FIFA inspectors will be looking at a wide range of factors, including stadium standards, transportation networks, lodging capacities, and security plans.
Preparations in Fes are already underway with infrastructure projects quickly moving forward. Major routes like Sefrou Road and Allal El Fassi Boulevard are undergoing expansions and renovations to improve accessibility and enhance the city’s appeal.
The crown jewel of the efforts is the Fes sports complex, where construction is ongoing to ensure the venue meets FIFA’s requirements. The delegation will also tour additional sports facilities, including the Hassan II Stadium and the Sports Institute at Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University.
Transportation is another major focus for Fes, which is developing a BusWays system to connect the airport, the sports complex, and the city center more efficiently. The public transport initiative is designed to ease congestion, provide environmentally friendly options for visitors, and facilitate the movement of thousands of fans during the tournament.
In addition to sporting facilities and transportation, FIFA inspectors will also assess Fes’s hotel capacity. The city plans to present its variety of high-end accommodations, including 4- and 5-star hotels, with a goal of reaching over 7,600 hotel rooms by 2028.
The city is already seeing a surge in construction work for new hotels, and upgrading existing ones to meet international standards. The city is also incorporating student housing into its accommodation plans to further expand its hosting capabilities.
Air connectivity will also play a critical role in Morocco’s World Cup ambition. Fes-Saiss Airport is currently undergoing a USD 50 million expansion to increase its capacity from 3 – 5 million passengers annually by December 2028.
The project will see the airport’s daily handling capacity rise to 19,000 passengers, with 100 additional aircraft parking spaces being created.