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PSG Academy in Morocco: From Casablanca to Expansion into Rabat

PSG Academy opened its first Moroccan site in Tamaris, near Casablanca, in 2024 before expanding to two additional sites in Rabat in 2025.

6 min read
By LMOS editorial team
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On 11 November 2024, Paris Saint-Germain celebrated the official opening of its first Academy in Morocco, in Tamaris in the Casablanca region, in the presence of Achraf Hakimi. The event attracted attention thanks to the Moroccan player, but the project is not limited to a ceremony or the promise of training future professionals.

Since that inauguration, the network has expanded to Rabat with two new sites. This development makes it possible to reassess the Casablanca launch with greater perspective: a football school operating under a brand licence, an educational and sports programme, and an international PSG presence in Morocco.

Three dates that should not be confused

PSG announced its arrival in Morocco on 6 August 2024. The Tamaris centre began welcoming participants at the start of the school year in September, and the official inauguration in the presence of Achraf Hakimi was then held on 11 November.

These three stages explain the differences in dates between subsequent communications. Saying that the centre was “inaugurated in August” oversimplifies the timeline: August corresponds to the announcement, September to the start of operations and November to the official ceremony documented by the club.

Clarifying this timeline also avoids presenting the event as an improvised opening centred on a player’s visit. The site was already operating when the ceremony took place.

The Tamaris centre

The first site is located in Tamaris, in the Casablanca region. At the official opening, PSG stated that it welcomed girls and boys aged 4 to 18 and had nearly 300 participants.

The announced facilities included pitches suited to several formats of play. The programme was intended to draw on Paris Saint-Germain’s training methodology under the local supervision of an experienced coach.

These figures describe the situation in November 2024. They should not be presented as guaranteed enrolment figures for 2026: registrations, teams, staffing and time slots may change. For any practical information, families should consult the current operator.

Achraf Hakimi’s role at the inauguration

Achraf Hakimi was welcomed by the young players, took part in a question-and-answer session and kicked off the first official training session. His presence gave the launch a strong symbolic dimension.

The Moroccan PSG defender represents an obvious link between the Parisian club and the Moroccan public. However, his involvement does not mean that he runs the Academy, selects players or conducts regular training sessions.

This distinction is important to avoid turning a project ambassador into its operational manager. Day-to-day operations depend on the local teams and coaches trained as part of the Academy programme.

A partnership with the Achraf Hakimi Foundation

PSG linked the opening to a collaboration with the Achraf Hakimi Foundation. During the ceremony, ten children from disadvantaged backgrounds received enrolment scholarships, according to the club’s official statement.

The partnership also provided access to the facilities and coaches for certain foundation activities. This aspect gives the project a social dimension, but it should not be taken to mean that all enrolments are free or that every child automatically receives a scholarship.

The terms of assistance, criteria and number of beneficiaries may change. Responsible communication refers people to the relevant organisations rather than promising a permanent scheme.

An Academy is not PSG’s professional youth training centre

The term “Academy” can create ambiguity. The international PSG Academy programme conveys a method and club identity through partner organisations. It is not the professional Paris Saint-Germain youth training centre located in France.

Enrolling in Casablanca or Rabat therefore constitutes neither a contract with PSG, nor a guarantee of being scouted, nor an automatic pathway into professional football. The stated objective is to support children’s sporting and personal development within a structured environment.

This distinction protects families from unrealistic expectations. The quality of a football school is measured by its supervision, safety, teaching, playing time and child development, not by a promise of a career.

Two new sites in Rabat

In 2025, PSG Academy Morocco opened two additional sites in Rabat. The club cites a first centre at Belle Vue, in the Agdal district, and a second at Hassan II Park.

According to the official presentation, these sites welcome children aged 4 to 12. They complement the Casablanca presence without replacing it. Facilities and formats differ from one location to another, which should be checked when enrolling.

PSG’s annual review published for the 2025-2026 season confirms that the two Rabat centres were inaugurated in August 2025. The Moroccan project has therefore grown from one founding site into a small network operating in two major cities.

What the expansion says about PSG’s strategy

The Academies are part of Paris Saint-Germain’s international strategy. They expand the brand’s presence, foster a community of supporters and offer sports programmes under a shared identity.

Morocco represents a natural market for this development: passion for football, Achraf Hakimi’s visibility and sporting ties with France. In 2024, the club stated that it had several million Moroccan followers on its social media platforms.

These communications figures measure a digital audience, not the number of Academy users. PSG’s popularity in Morocco should not be confused with the actual capacity of the training centres.

What value does it offer grassroots football?

A well-supervised organisation can give children regular access to the sport, sessions suited to their age and an environment where collective values matter as much as the result.

However, its impact on Moroccan football remains difficult to measure in the short term. The number of registered participants, coach training, participant retention and links with local clubs are more revealing than a highly publicised inauguration.

The contribution of a private Academy complements the work of clubs, schools, associations and federations; it does not replace them. The development of grassroots football depends on a much broader ecosystem.

What families should check

Before enrolling, families should confirm the exact site, accepted age range, schedule, number of sessions, staff qualifications, insurance, required equipment and applicable fee.

They should also ask how groups are formed, how much emphasis is placed on playing, and how injuries, heat and safeguarding of minors are managed. The logo of a major club does not remove the need for these practical questions.

As contact details and offers may change, this article publishes neither prices nor promises of availability. Official information from PSG Academy Morocco remains the reference at the time of enrolment.

A project now established for the long term

The Casablanca opening was the first visible stage of PSG Academy in Morocco. Achraf Hakimi’s presence gave the day considerable emotional significance, while the scholarships awarded with his foundation added a tangible community component.

The arrival of two sites in Rabat in 2025 shows that the project did not remain limited to the inaugural event. Its true assessment must nevertheless focus on the quality of supervision and the children’s experience rather than solely on the power of the brand.

This perspective places the development in context: an expanding private sports initiative offering educational opportunities, but without any guarantee of a professional career.

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