By Angu Lesley
Football writer kick442.com – Cameroon
Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, has announced plans to activate approximately 800 local sports pitches in 2026 as part of efforts to expand grassroots sports participation and improve access to sporting facilities across the country. The initiative will primarily target rural communities and underserved neighbourhoods on the outskirts of major cities, responding to growing demands for improved sports infrastructure.
Bensaid made the announcement on Wednesday while presenting his ministry’s sub-budget proposal before the Committee on Education, Culture and Communication at the House of Representatives. He stressed that equal access to sports facilities remains a key priority, highlighting the need for stronger collaboration between government institutions, local authorities, development partners and national sports federations to support grassroots development.
The minister also addressed governance challenges affecting several national sports federations, revealing that a committee had been established to give affected associations deadlines to regularise their administrative and legal situations. Interim committees are currently managing the Royal Moroccan Pétanque Federation and the Royal Moroccan Badminton Federation, while similar measures are being considered for federations responsible for table tennis, swimming, cricket, hockey, kickboxing, shooting and motorcycling. A review of the legislation governing sports federations is also planned to strengthen accountability and modernise their administration.
On stadium security, Bensaid outlined measures to combat hooliganism and ticket irregularities, including the installation of surveillance cameras and advanced monitoring systems. The digitisation of ticket distribution through mobile applications is also being used to tackle ticket touting, while football clubs are expected to take greater responsibility for managing supporters and coordinating security arrangements during major fixtures and away trips.
Meanwhile, Bensaid revealed that Morocco had hosted nearly 100 major sporting events this year, reinforcing its growing reputation as an international sporting destination. Among the competitions highlighted were the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations and the Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations. He also pointed to the achievements of Moroccan national teams and clubs in football and futsal, as the country continues to invest in infrastructure, institutional reforms and opportunities for young sporting talents.
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