Morocco: FIFA authorizes continuation of league during 2026 World Cup

The 2025-2026 Botola Pro season will conclude under truly unprecedented circumstances. In an exceptional move, FIFA has allowed the Moroccan league to continue during the 2026 World Cup, with the season now expected to wrap up around June 27. This is a rare situation in the world of football.

The decision comes in response to a particularly congested Moroccan football calendar in recent seasons. With the 2024 CHAN, the 2025 Arab Cup, and the 2025 AFCON, several national league matches were postponed, creating a significant scheduling backlog.

On top of that, Moroccan clubs' commitments in African interclub competitions have further disrupted the season's rhythm. As a result, the Botola Pro was unable to stick to its original schedule.

A rare exemption approved by FIFA

According to information from Radio Mars, FIFA has approved an exceptional schedule allowing the Botola to continue during the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This decision was made possible largely due to the significant time difference between Morocco and the World Cup host countries, which helps avoid direct broadcasting and scheduling conflicts.

FIFA has therefore authorized Moroccan league matches to be played at specific times distinct from those of the World Cup games, ensuring there is no direct competition for broadcast slots.

A tailored schedule to avoid overlaps

Under this new arrangement, Botola matches will be scheduled to avoid clashing with World Cup fixtures. Moroccan sports authorities and organizing bodies have had to completely revise the end-of-season calendar.

This adjustment aims to ensure both the continuity of the league and respect for the global event, which is set to kick off on June 11, 2026, with the final slated for July 19.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.