How Morocco Ex-International Influenced FIFA Office In Rabat

How Morocco's Ex-International Influenced FIFA Office In Rabat

Sampson Adedeji

Many football followers are familiar with Hussein Kharja as a former Moroccan international, but fewer are aware of the significant role he played behind the scenes in bringing FIFA’s African regional office to Rabat.

Kharja, who enjoyed a successful playing career with the Atlas Lions and several European clubs, currently serves as a special adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

In that capacity, he was instrumental in influencing key discussions that led to the establishment of FIFA’s African headquarters in the Moroccan capital.

Sources close to the process revealed that Kharja leveraged his close working relationship with Infantino and his deep understanding of African football dynamics to advocate strongly for Morocco as the preferred host location.

His input reportedly highlighted Morocco’s political stability, football infrastructure, strategic location, and long-standing investment in the development of the game across the continent. .

The decision to site the FIFA Africa office in Rabat has further strengthened Morocco’s growing influence within global football governance.

It also underlines the country’s broader ambition to position itself as a central hub for football administration in Africa, following recent successes in hosting major CAF and FIFA events.

While the development has been welcomed in many quarters, it has also generated debate in some football circles, with critics questioning the extent of individual influence in such high-level institutional decisions.

Nevertheless, the presence of FIFA’s African office in Rabat stands as another milestone in Morocco’s expanding footprint in world football, with Hussein Kharja’s behind-the-scenes role now emerging as a key part of that story.