Morocco’s OCP Group, the world’s largest phosphate producer, plans to create a subsidiary dedicated to sports development, particularly focusing on football, with an initial investment of $38 million.
Named “OCP Sport Development,” the subsidiary will start with an initial capital of 39 million dirhams, wholly owned by the OCP Group, as per a decree published in the official gazette.
Morocco, holding over 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves, has the OCP Group at the forefront of extracting, processing, and exporting this valuable resource. The Group’s exports amounted to about 6.7 billion dollars up until November last year.
According to a report by SogeCapital Gestion, an asset management company affiliated with Morocco’s Société Générale bank, Morocco needs an investment of around $5 billion (52 billion dirhams) to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The OCP Group’s new venture is aligned with this vision.
The OCP Group has declared that the new company will establish world-class sports infrastructure, contributing to a new model for football development.
This will be achieved by creating a synergy between training centers and professional clubs under the supervision of the Moroccan Football Federation.
The football development project will be funded 60% by the Group’s resources, with the remainder to be borrowed from banks. Feasibility studies project an investment return of 5.4% over 25 years.
This initiative is part of Morocco’s broader strategy to invest in football development, gearing up to host two significant sporting events: the Africa Cup of Nations next year and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, in a joint bid with Spain and Portugal.
The project envisages building sports facilities near OCP Group’s industrial and mining sites in Khouribga, El Jadida, and Safi, which are hubs for phosphate extraction and processing.
The plan includes the establishment and management of world-class training centers and academies aimed at identifying and nurturing talent from a young age. It also focuses on preparing athletes for professional realignment through comprehensive training programs.
The project will also involve partnerships with global sports institutions for knowledge exchange and the establishment of an academic sports tra
