Morocco Celebrates Wins in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and in tandem with Georgia’s Aerospace Industry.
ATLANTA – July 2, 2026
Morocco is riding a high after their penalty shootout win against the Netherlands on June 29 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coupled with their previous win against Haiti in the Group C match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium) on June 24. The excitement surrounding the tournament has also provided a platform to highlight the robust partnership between Morocco and Atlanta, Georgia.
Prior to the coin toss in Atlanta, Moroccan cultural celebrations transformed Underground Atlanta and the Woodruff Arts Center into vibrant gathering places. His Excellency Youssef Amrani, Ambassador of Morocco to the United States, praised Atlanta before Morocco’s opening match, “We are very happy to be here first because Atlanta is a beautiful city, is a multicultural city, and it is a city that receives all the foreigners with a smile …. You have one of the best stadiums in America and we are proud to be there.”
Also on the eve of the Atlanta match, the City of Atlanta and the Kingdom of Morocco signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen industrial, cultural and economic collaboration across several high-growth sectors, including aerospace. The agreement builds on the already existing synergy between Georgia and Morocco’s aerospace industries.
Both Georgia and Morocco are leading aerospace exporters in the world. Civilian aircraft and auxiliary parts are Georgia’s top export, while aerospace is one of the state’s largest manufacturing sectors. Morocco is the top aerospace exporter in Africa and the country claims the fifth most dynamic aerospace market worldwide. Leading Georgia-based aerospace and defense companies use Moroccan facilities to maintain regional fleets, linking the two markets not just through logistics, but shared industrial initiatives as well.
Lockheed Martin has long-standing ties to the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) dating back to 1974. The second-largest aerospace employer in Georgia, Lockheed Martin celebrated 75-years of continuous operation in the state this year. The aerospace giant also announced plans to expand the already massive 8-million square foot manufacturing plant employing approximately 5,600 workers at that location and contributing roughly $4.5 billion to Georgia’s economy.
The Marietta Lockheed Martin plant has been the global home of C-130 Hercules production since 1955, making the site America’s longest-running and last-remaining military aircraft production line. More than 2,700 C-130s have been built there and delivered to 70+ operators worldwide, including Morocco.
Since delivering the first C-130H aircraft, Lockheed Martin has provided advanced systems, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Sikorsky helicopters and radar systems to the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
In a joint 2022 venture known as Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM), Lockheed Martin helped establish a cutting-edge maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center in Morocco for C-130 and F-16 aircraft. The MAM venture solidified Lockheed Martin’s long-term commitment to the Kingdom of Morocco’s defense capabilities.
“We value our long‑standing partnership with Morocco and congratulate the nation on its strong World Cup performance and its steadfast commitment to a robust defense capability,” said Trish Pagan, vice president, Lockheed Martin Air Mobility and Maritime Missions and general manager of the Marietta site. “We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Morocco and continuing to support the advancement of its defense requirements.”
Maintenance Aero Maroc commissioned and broke ground in 2025 on the construction of a new state-of-the-art heavy maintenance hangar at Ben Slimane Airport in Morocco’s Casablanca-Settat region. The Ben Slimane site was chosen for its strategic location and status as an existing air force base, as well as offering ample space for expansion. The new facility is scheduled to be operational later this year.
The Eaton-Souriau Tangiers plant in Morocco has been a direct supplier of essential aerospace components in the Lockheed Martin supply chain for nearly two decades.
“Lockheed Martin’s recent investments, both locally in the metro Atlanta region and abroad in Morocco, demonstrate the international scale of the aerospace sector,” said Kimberly Allred, Aerospace and Defense Manager at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “With the demand we are seeing across the sector, both Georgia and Morocco are primed for continued growth and innovation across the aerospace industry.”
To highlight the connectivity between aerospace and the World Cup, the Metro Atlanta Chamber will host an event, “Aerospace on the World Stage”, for aerospace professionals on July 14 from 7:30-9:00 am at the Chamber’s exclusive ATL House at The Center (CTR), steps away from the FIFA World Cup action.
The in-person breakfast and panel discussion will be moderated by Kimberly Allred, Aerospace and Defense Manager at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Representatives from some of Georgia’s leading aerospace companies will discuss how the industry prepared to support the world’s largest and most-watched international sporting event and how global partnerships strengthen Atlanta’s aerospace industry. Advance registration is required and subject to Chamber approval: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aerospace-on-the-world-stage-tickets-1991053556786?aff=oddtdtcreator.
###
