Sensible joint Morocco bid right time for Africa

Morocco fans cheer during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on 27 November 2022 | Photo Credit: AFP

WORLD CUP Sensible joint Morocco bid right time for Africa

Shafic Kiyaga 22:14 - 21.03.2023

The North African nation has previously bid for the World Cup in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, and 2026, but have failed each time.

Morocco is confident of winning the right to host football's men's World Cup after they joined forces with Spain and Portugal for a joint bid in 2030.

Chakib Benmoussa, Morocco's sports minister, has said that he believes it is the "right time" for the country to launch its sixth attempt at hosting the tournament.

The North African nation has previously bid for the World Cup in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, and 2026, but have failed each time.

Benmoussa has stated that the joint bid with Spain and Portugal makes sense due to their close ties and investment in developing football infrastructure.

Morocco's bid also marks the first confirmed transcontinental bid in World Cup history.

"Geographically, distances are closer than other groups where we are and which will organize the World Cup in future," Benmoussa explained. "We are confident that it will be the right time."

Morocco's failed bids have all come in the last 30 years, but this is a first joint bid, which is raising hopes inside the country itself, according to Moroccan football journalist Amine El Amri.

"People are generally really confident compared to the other bids in the past," he said, pointing to the expansion of the competition due to take place in 2026 when the USA, Canada, and Mexico will also join forces as part of a tri-nation bid.

Morocco's recent performance in Qatar, where they became the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, could also boost their chances of securing the hosting rights.

Their success in Qatar was attributed to the country's development at all levels of the game.

Additionally, Morocco successfully hosted last year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations, where the Atlas Lionesses reached the final but lost to South Africa.

South Africa Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan, who led the organization of the 2010 tournament, has expressed support for Morocco's bid, stating that it is a unique proposal and that Portugal and Spain will give them a significant boost.

The Morocco-Portugal-Spain proposal is one of two confirmed bids for 2030, taking on another multi-nation pitch from South America featuring Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Morocco has until 2024 to submit its bid book to the international football governing body, FIFA.

The 2030 World Cup host will be decided by Fifa's member associations at next year's congress which will be held in Osaka, Japan.