The Africa Cup of Nations round-of-16 clash between Algeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo has drawn unusual international attention, with a delegation from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation closely monitoring security and organisational arrangements in Morocco.
The FBI delegation has been in the country since the end of last week as part of broader international security cooperation linked to the staging of major sporting events.
On Tuesday, the focus turned to the Algeria–DR Congo match at the newly built Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, a 65,000-capacity venue expected to host one of the most heavily attended fixtures of the knockout stage.
According to French broadcaster Radio Monte Carlo, the American officials are paying particular attention to how pre-match operations are managed, especially the reception and movement of foreign supporters entering the stadium.
The match is considered high-risk in terms of crowd numbers and logistics, both inside and around the venue.
The FBI team arrived in Morocco on Sunday, led by Douglas Olson, Director of Operations in the Field Response Services Division, and Kevin Kowalski, Deputy Director of the Emergency Response Group.
Their visit began with an inspection of security procedures during Morocco’s group-stage match against Tanzania.
Security measures observed included the deployment of ground units, screening and access-control protocols, the use of high-definition video surveillance, and drone technology to monitor the perimeter of stadiums and surrounding infrastructure.
The visit is aimed at gathering operational insights and best practices ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
FIFA requires extensive international coordination for major tournaments, and Morocco’s AFCON is serving as a live case study.
Security cooperation between Morocco and the United States is expected to continue in the coming years, extending towards the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal.
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