Spain, Portugal and Morocco sign a Memorandum of Understanding on judicial cooperation in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup

The Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, Félix Bolaños, along with his Moroccan and Portuguese counterparts

The Spanish Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, Félix Bolaños, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Minister for Justice of Portugal, Rita Júdice, and the Minister for Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco, Abdellatif Ouahbi. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 FIFA World Cup and, in this context, have agreed on a plan to strengthen transnational judicial cooperation and promote concerted action during the period from 2026 to 2030.

The three justice ministers met in Rabat for the first trilateral meeting between the countries organising the World Cup with regard to arranging this sporting event and technical cooperation.

The 2030 World Cup will be the first World Cup in history to be held on two continents. Spain will be the main venue (with 11 stadiums), followed by Morocco (with 6 stadiums) and Portugal (with 3 stadiums).

Seven areas of cooperation

This MoU, which builds on the bilateral Declarations of Intent already signed between Morocco and Portugal (Lisbon, January 2025) and between Morocco and Spain (Madrid, March 2025), will be applicable from today until 31 December 2030 and may be revised or extended if the three countries agree to do so.

The seven areas of cooperation that have been agreed upon cover mutual legal assistance and coordination between central authorities, the promotion of e-justice and the strengthening of the fight against crime and cybercrime, among other things.

Responding effectively to the challenges of the 2030 World Cup

As Minister Bolaños explained in an institutional statement to the media, this is a comprehensive cooperation framework designed to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the organisation of an event like the World Cup.

Bolaños also emphasised that this MoU strengthens the trusting relations between Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and that Spain will contribute its experience, strategic location and role as a direct link between Morocco and the European Union.

An opportunity to strengthen trilateral cooperation

Spain has maintained fluid, stable and high-quality judicial cooperation with both Portugal and Morocco for decades due to their double geographical border.

At the judicial level, the World Cup provides an opportunity to strengthen trilateral cooperation, consolidate existing mechanisms and demonstrate the maturity of relations between the three countries. It also enables the exploration of digital solutions for rapid and secure exchange of tournament-related requests, documents and judicial information.

Minister Bolaños arrived in Rabat on Thursday, where he held a bilateral meeting with the Moroccan Minister for Justice. They then participated in a gala dinner, which was also attended by the Portuguese Minister for Justice and, from the host country, the Minister for Education and Sports, the Deputy Minister for Budgets (who is also the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation), the Deputy Chairman of the High Council of the Judiciary and the President of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

This Friday, ahead of the trilateral meeting, the minister also visited the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.

Non official translation