The Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé, Morocco, was established in 2009 under the patronage of King Mohammed VI. It was created to address the lack of professional training infrastructure and to develop young Moroccan football talent. The academy is widely recognized as a key driver of the national team's recent successes.
As of 2026, the academy has produced over 100 professional players, including notable stars such as Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla FC), and Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United). These players were part of Morocco's historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the first African team to achieve that feat.
The academy's facilities include multiple pitches, a medical center, classrooms, and dormitories. It follows a holistic training model combining football education with academic studies. The annual budget is estimated at around 50 million Moroccan dirhams (approximately $5 million), funded by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Promotion of Social Works.
In 2024, the academy launched a women's football section to promote gender equality in sports. It also collaborates with international clubs like FC Barcelona and Ajax Amsterdam for coaching exchanges. The academy remains a cornerstone of Morocco's football development strategy.
