Sport in Morocco

Sports in Morocco are enjoyed by many people in the Kingdom of Morocco. Popular games include handball, football, golf, tennis, basketball, and athletics. One of Morocco’s most famous athletes is Hicham El Guerrouj, a middle-distance runner who won two gold medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Association football is especially loved by people of African descent and is the most popular sport in Morocco. Other favorite sports are athletics, Futsal, basketball, boxing, golf, netball, swimming, surfing, and tennis. These sports bring excitement and pride to communities across the country.

Ministry of Youth and Sports

The Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sports started in August 1964. It helps organize sports in the country and supports all the sports groups there. Some athletes feel that the Ministry could do more to help young people get chances to play sports professionally.

Host of events

Morocco will host the FIFA World Cup together with Portugal and Spain. This will be the first time Morocco hosts the tournament, and it will be the first World Cup held in more than one continent. It will also be the second World Cup in an African country after 2010 in South Africa, the second in an Arab country after Qatar in 2022, and the first in North Africa.

Morocco has been a host for many important sports events. It hosted the 2019 African Games in Rabat, which was the largest African Games ever. The country has also hosted many football tournaments, including the 1988 African Cup of Nations, 2013 FIFA Club World Cup, 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, 2018 African Nations Championship, 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, and 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

Other events hosted by Morocco include the 1961 Pan Arab Games, 1983 Mediterranean Games, and many more football and sports competitions over the years.

By Sport

See also: Football in Morocco

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation in Rabat controls football in Morocco. Morocco has qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times and tried to host the event several times. In October 2023, Morocco, along with Spain and Portugal, was chosen to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

• Morocco national football team
• Morocco national under-23 football team
• Morocco national under-20 football team
• Morocco women's national football team
• Botola
• Botola 2
• National

The top football league in Morocco is called "Botola" Pro, where 16 teams compete each season. The most successful clubs are AS FAR, Wydad Casablanca, and Raja Casablanca.

Morocco's national futsal team has become very popular. They have hosted and won the Africa Futsal Cup of Nations three times and the Arab Futsal Cup three times too. They have also qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup three times.

Handball is another popular sport in Morocco, with both men’s and women’s teams competing in tournaments.

Morocco has many equestrian sports, led by the Royal Moroccan Equestrian Federation. Abdelkebir Ouaddar is a famous Moroccan rider who competed in the Olympics.

Mehdi Bennani is a well-known Moroccan racing driver who has competed in the World Touring Car Championship.

Morocco’s national cricket team hosted a tournament in 2002 and has a stadium ready for international matches.

Basketball in Morocco is managed by the Moroccan Royal Basketball Federation. The men’s national team won a championship in 1965 and recently won the 2023 FIBA AfroCan in Luanda, Angola.

Morocco’s women’s volleyball team won a bronze medal in 2021.

Rugby union in Morocco began during the time when France occupied the country. Many Moroccan players went to Europe for inspiration.

Morocco joined the International Ice Hockey Federation in 2010.

Stadiums

Morocco has many places where people can play and watch sports. Some well-known stadiums include Stade d'Agadir, Stade Cheikh Laaghdef, Stade Complexe Sportif, Honor Stadium, and Stade Mohammed V. There are many more stadiums across the country where football matches and other games take place.

See also: List of indoor arenas in Morocco