Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco's budget minister and president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, has sparked intense political speculation after joining the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) less than three months before parliamentary elections scheduled for September 23. The move has prompted debate over whether Lekjaa — who built his public profile overseeing national finances and presiding over the Atlas Lions' historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals — could emerge as a candidate for head of government following the vote. The speculation carries added weight given that the administration formed after the election will be responsible for delivering the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, a project analysts have described as a defining test for whoever leads the country next.