A high-level delegation from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrived in Morocco this week to conduct an in-depth review of the security and public safety protocols implemented for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, reflecting growing international interest in the robust measures safeguarding one of Africa’s biggest sporting events.
According to Hespress, the delegation, led by Douglas Olson, Director of Operations at the FBI’s Field Intervention Services Division, and Kevin Kowalski, Deputy Director of the Emergency Response Group, is on an official visit from January 4 to January 6, 2026, aimed at studying Morocco’s comprehensive security framework and tactical coordination at football venues across the kingdom.
The visit began with a field inspection at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on the sidelines of Morocco’s AFCON match against Tanzania, where FBI officials observed first-hand the deployment of security personnel, access control measures, and a layered surveillance system that includes both drones and high-definition cameras. They also assessed the coordination between fixed and mobile command centres that help ensure rapid response capabilities during matches.
In addition to stadium visits, the U.S. delegation toured the African Security Cooperation Center — a purpose-built hub designed to enhance collaboration between Moroccan security agencies and police representatives from participating African nations. The centre, which plays a central role in coordinating operational logistics and real-time information sharing, provided the FBI team with insights into how such joint efforts can be scaled for future international events.
“This engagement allows us to learn from a security model that has been meticulously developed and tested in real-time,” one FBI official said during the visit, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the mission. “Understanding these protocols helps inform our own preparation for major global sporting events.”
The delegation’s schedule also includes a visit to Moulay Hassan Stadium, where they will examine security preparations for the match between Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That assessment will particularly focus on how Moroccan authorities manage foreign fan entry points, operational coordination with international police officers and the deployment of “spotters” who monitor supporter movements inside and outside the venue.
Morocco’s security setup for AFCON has drawn attention for its integration of advanced technology and human resources, combining aerial surveillance, electronic tracking, and collaborative intelligence mechanisms to cover stadium perimeters, fan zones and transit corridors alike. Experts say these lessons could be valuable for the United States as it prepares to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2026, an event that FIFA requires be supported by an international security cooperation centre.
The visit underscores the increasing bilateral cooperation between Morocco and the United States on security matters beyond AFCON, extending into shared efforts on risk assessment, emergency response coordination and the use of cutting-edge technologies to protect large crowds at international events.
