Morocco, Spain and Portugal signed on Friday in Rabat a memorandum of understanding and an action plan covering the 2026–2030 period to strengthen judicial cooperation ahead of their joint co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Signed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Justice in Rabat, the agreement brought together Moroccan Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi, his Spanish counterpart Félix Bolaños García, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, and Portugal’s Minister of Justice Rita Alarcão Júdice. The agreement aims to enhance coordination between judicial systems tasked with supporting the organisation of the global sporting event.
The framework is designed to ensure a common approach to legal security, rights protection and access to justice throughout the tournament. It also facilitates closer institutional coordination among the three countries as they prepare to jointly host the World Cup.
The document outlines several priority areas, starting with mutual legal assistance between judicial authorities to streamline the handling of cross-border cases, whether civil, commercial or criminal. The signatories also seek to strengthen the legal governance of major events—an essential component for a tournament of this scale, where issues related to contracts, liability, mobility and public order are likely to arise.
The agreement further covers digital justice, the fight against cross-border cybercrime, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and human resource training.
On the occasion, Ouahbi emphasised Morocco’s commitment to helping build a shared judicial framework capable of addressing the challenges associated with hosting the 2030 World Cup, highlighting an approach based on efficiency and anticipation.
For his part, Bolaños welcomed what he described as a qualitative step forward in tripartite legal coordination, stressing that an event of such magnitude requires strong cooperation mechanisms and joint mobilisation.
Júdice, meanwhile, underscored the strength of the partnership between the three countries, describing the initiative as a new milestone built on trust and complementarity in tackling upcoming legal challenges.
Through the agreement, Morocco, Spain and Portugal reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening a strategic partnership and enhancing judicial coordination, contributing to the successful hosting of the 2030 World Cup and the emergence of an integrated model of regional cooperation.
AK/lb/as/APA