Morocco accepted WAFCON 2026 hosting rights over lack of interest from other nations – Fouzi Lekjaa

Morocco Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has revealed that his country agreed to host the expanded 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) because no other nation was willing to stage the tournament.

Speaking about Morocco’s decision to host the continental showpiece, Lekjaa said the North African nation stepped forward due to its readiness and the absence of competing bids.

“We will organize the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations because no other country wanted it. We accepted to host it because everything is ready, and we will not lose anything by doing so,” Lekjaa said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

His comments underline Morocco’s growing role as one of Africa’s leading hosts of major football events, having invested heavily in sports infrastructure and event organization in recent years.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has scheduled the expanded edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026. The tournament is expected to be one of the biggest editions in the competition’s history as women’s football continues to experience significant growth across the continent.

Morocco’s selection as host comes at a time when the country is positioning itself as a major destination for international football competitions.

The nation successfully hosted previous CAF tournaments and has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to organize large-scale sporting events with modern stadiums, training facilities and transportation networks already in place.

Lekjaa’s remarks suggest that Morocco’s existing infrastructure played a key role in the decision to accept hosting responsibilities. According to the federation president, the country faces minimal logistical or financial challenges because the necessary facilities are already available.

The 2026 WAFCON will provide another opportunity for Morocco to showcase its organizational capabilities ahead of even bigger international football events on the horizon. The country is also preparing to play a central role in the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal.

Women’s football has enjoyed rapid development across Africa in recent years, with CAF increasing investment in the women’s game and expanding opportunities for national teams to compete at the highest level.

The upcoming tournament is expected to attract significant attention from fans, sponsors and broadcasters as the continent’s top women’s teams battle for continental supremacy.

Morocco’s commitment to hosting the competition ensures that preparations can begin well in advance, with organizers expected to focus on delivering a successful tournament capable of further raising the profile of women’s football in Africa.

The tournament will bring together the continent’s elite women’s national teams from July 25 to August 16, 2026, with Morocco once again serving as the stage for another major chapter in African football history.