Morocco’s hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) enabled the Kingdom to achieve a development milestone equivalent to ten years of progress in just 24 months, Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour said.
In statements to the Spanish news agency EFE, Mezzour explained that the tournament significantly accelerated investment in infrastructure and large-scale structural projects, turning the continental competition into a powerful development catalyst.
The minister said the Moroccan government estimates that AFCON 2025 generated more than €1.5 billion in direct revenues, describing the tournament as a genuine economic lever that also contributed directly to preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Mezzour noted that hosting AFCON allowed Morocco to complete around 80 percent of the infrastructure required for the 2030 World Cup, which the Kingdom will co-host with Spain and Portugal, pointing to what he described as a “dual effect” on revenues and investments.
During the AFCON 2025 competition, Morocco recorded the arrival of approximately 600,000 visitors who travelled specifically to follow the tournament, Mezzour said, coinciding with what he described as a record-breaking year for Moroccan tourism.
According to official data cited by the minister, Morocco welcomed around 20 million visitors in 2025, marking a 14 percent increase, a surge that boosted revenues and revitalized several key economic sectors.
Mezzour stressed that these tourism flows stimulated transport, hospitality, restaurants, and traditional crafts, while injecting immediate liquidity into the local economy and positively impacting economic activity across different regions of the country.
On the investment side, the minister said that a total of €2.3 billion was invested in AFCON 2025, describing the spending as a “sovereign investment” in lasting infrastructure.
These investments included the construction or rehabilitation of nine major stadiums, as well as the development of road networks, airports, and services, ensuring that these facilities will continue to serve citizens for decades. “We gained a decade of development in 24 months and equipped the Kingdom with infrastructure that will serve citizens for the next 50 years,” Mezzour said, arguing that betting on sport has proven its effectiveness as a development choice.
In terms of employment, the minister said the social impact of the tournament is a “source of pride,” noting that AFCON resulted in the creation of more than 100,000 jobs. He added that these were not limited to temporary positions, as thousands of young people were trained according to international standards, giving them sustainable employability beyond 2025.
Mezzour also said that more than 3,000 industrial companies took part in works linked to the tournament, while AFCON accelerated Morocco’s technological transformation through the deployment of 5G, digital identification systems, electronic ticketing, and cybersecurity solutions. These measures helped reduce logistical costs and attract new investments, as Morocco showcased its ability to host major international events before a global audience of two billion television viewers and 10 billion views on social media platforms.
