Morocco will staff up with Spain and Portugal in a glitzy, three-way bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, officers introduced in a joint assertion Tuesday.
Ukraine had initially joined Spain and Portugal as a possible associate for his or her 2030 bid, however with the latter’s struggle with Russia having no finish in sight, Morocco have stepped in.
“I want to announce that the Kingdom of Morocco has determined, along with Spain and Portugal, to current a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup,” Morocco’s King Mohammed VI stated in a letter learn by the nation’s minister of sport Chakib Benmoussa in Kigali, the place soccer physique FIFA hosts its 73rd Congress on Thursday.
“This joint bid, which is unprecedented in soccer historical past, will carry collectively Africa and Europe, the northern and southern Mediterranean, and the African, Arab and Euro-Mediterranean worlds.
“It can additionally carry out one of the best in all of us – in impact a mixture of genius, creativity, expertise and means.”
Morocco have bid for a number of World Cup finals up to now, coming closest within the race to stage the 2010 event the place they misplaced out to South Africa.
They shocked the world on the event in Qatar final yr once they turned the primary African facet to achieve the semi-finals the place they misplaced to France. Morocco ultimately completed fourth behind Croatia.
The African nation additionally hosted the 2022 Membership World Cup, which was delayed because of the Qatar World Cup and was held final month.
There may be one different confirmed joint bid for the 2030 finals from South American nations Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay. The latter hosted the primary World Cup finals in 1930.
The 2026 World Cup shall be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada with 48 groups enjoying a complete of 104 matches.
FIFA accepted a brand new format on Tuesday with 12 teams the place the highest two groups and eight greatest third-placed groups transfer into the knockout spherical of 32.