FBI agents in the Algeria-Congo match! What’s the story?

Moulay El Hassan Stadium in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, witnessed, in an unusual scene in African stadiums, the presence of a group of members of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), coinciding with the match between the Algerian national team and its counterpart from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. This exceptional security presence raised widespread questions about its causes and dimensions.

In this context, the French website RMC Sport reported that the presence of FBI agents falls within what is called a professional mission related to observation and coordination in the field of international sports security, and has nothing to do with, according to their information, any direct security threat or exceptional circumstances related to the match itself.

According to the same source, this mission is led by senior officials at the US FBI, including Douglas Olson, Director of Field Intervention Operations, and Kevin Kovaleski, Deputy Director of Emergency Teams.

On the other hand, the American delegation began its duties days before the match between Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it closely followed a number of the tournament’s matches, most notably the match between Morocco and Tanzania, which was hosted in the same stadium. The evaluation process focused on various organizational aspects, including the deployment of security units, inspection mechanisms, high-resolution camera surveillance systems, in addition to the use of drones in the vicinity of the sports facility.

In the same context, members of the Federal Office paid special attention to the method of receiving and organizing the movement of foreign fans, as it is a pivotal point in the success of major sporting events, especially in terms of preventing accidents and ensuring the smooth entry and exit from stadiums. These standards are among the basic pillars adopted by international bodies when granting the honor of organizing major tournaments.

The French source claims that the primary goal of this visit is to gather field experiences in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which will be organized by the United States of America in partnership with Canada and Mexico. FIFA requires a high level of security coordination between the organizing countries and international partners to ensure the highest levels of safety.

@ Alaa my life