Morocco have officially announced they will team up with Spain and Portugal to bid for the 2030 Fifa World Cup.
King of Morocco Mohammed VI announced on Tuesday through minister of sports and education Chakib Benmoussa in Kigali.
Also president were Rwanda President Paul Kagame, who was presented with the CAF president outstanding achievement award by CAF boss Patrice Motsepe, as well as Fifa President Gianni Infantino.
Several confederation heads, federation presidents from the 54 CAF member associations and CAF Executive Committee members were also in attendance.
“I would like to announce, before this assembly, that the Kingdom of Morocco has decided, together with Spain and Portugal, to present a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup,” read part of Benmoussa’s statement delivered at the Serena Hotel, Kigali.
“The joint bid, which is unprecedented in football history, will bring together Africa and Europe, the northern and southern Mediterranean, and the African, Arab and Euro-Mediterranean worlds. It will also bring out the best in all of us — in effect, a combination of genius, creativity, experience and means.”
Morocco, Spain and Portugal will face competition from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay who are set to present one South American bid. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Greece are also said to be interested with an official bid expected soon.
If successful, it will be the second time the Fifa World Cup returns to Africa after South Africa successfully hosted the tournament in 2010.
Motsepe welcomed and encouraged the decision by Morocco.
“I’m very excited and I encourage Morocco. I’m also aware that Egypt have indicated that they are going to submit a bid. My job is to keep Africa united and to make sure we work together as a continent and use all of our votes for the success of the African continent,” said Motsepe.
“We are going to sit down as CAF Exco and look at all these proposals and bids. We don’t just support them, we encourage them but we don’t want the vote of Africa to be divided since this will minimise our chances of success. We will sit down and make an announcement in due course and make sure Africa succeeds.”
Atlas Lions’ coach Walid Regrarui, who guided the African side to the Fifa World Cup semifinals for the first time in history, was confident Morocco can stage the global showpiece in 2030.
“I want to say thank you to the King of Morocco. We can organise the best World Cup, inshallah,” said Regrargui.
The 2030 World Cup bid winner will be announced at the 2024 Fifa Congress.
