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One week before the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between Morocco and Brazil, the ambassadors of both countries in Washington took part in a discussion on the «Power of Sport in Diplomacy», hosted by the Atlantic Council.
Morocco’s ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, and Brazil’s ambassador to Washington, Maria Luisa Ribeiro Viotti, highlighted the strong ties between the two nations, united by a shared passion for football and growing economic relations.
«After nearly fifty years in diplomacy, I have learned that football can open doors and build connections in 90 minutes that diplomacy sometimes takes years to achieve», Amrani said.
The Moroccan diplomat also praised U.S. preparations for the 2026 World Cup and pointed to the symbolic timing of the tournament, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Morocco and the United States.
Looking ahead to the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, Amrani said the event reflects the Kingdom’s role as a bridge between Africa, Europe, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
«Morocco is naturally a bridge between worlds. The World Cup is about more than football. It is about bringing people together, encouraging dialogue and showing that cooperation remains possible in a fragmented world», he said.
Turning to bilateral relations, he noted that Morocco is now Brazil’s second-largest trading partner in Africa, while Brazil remains a key partner for the Kingdom in agriculture, food security, fertilizers and industry.
For her part, Ribeiro Viotti described football as a powerful tool for bringing people together and praised Morocco’s recent achievements on the international stage. She said the Kingdom embodies «a new energy in world football» and hailed the Atlas Lions as «one of the best national teams in the world», recognized for their tactical intelligence, discipline and effectiveness on the counterattack.
Looking ahead to the June 13 match at New York/New Jersey Stadium, she predicted a closely contested encounter between two football powers and expressed confidence that the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Spain and Portugal would be «a great success».
