Rabat – Morocco’s 2026 World Cup bid committee officially submitted its bid book to FIFA on Thursday, at the international football governing headquarters in Zurich.
In a statement printed by the state-owned news outlet, Maghreb Arab Press, the committee says that the submission of the bid occurred, thanks to the involvement of the Moroccan Royal Football Federation (FRMF) and other vital forces of the nation.
“The committee has fulfilled its commitment by submitting a quality dossies with respect to the deadlines imposed by FIFA,” said the statement.
Morocco’s bid book constitutes 24 sections covering the country’s vision, strategy, and sustainable development. The committee confirmed that FIFA’s key requirement–stadiums, transport, training sites and hotels–were treated with “meticulousness.”
The section covering the administrative aspect of the book has required the signing of more than 200 local and national contracts, including agreements with host cities, stadiums, and airports, in addition to other requirements.
The bid committee chairman, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, says that “Morocco presents a record with undeniable qualities and proposes to organize a successful, responsible, and profitable World Cup with an important legacy for the country, but also for the continent.”
According to the Moroccan official the World Cup in Morocco will be beneficial to “players, fans, FIFA, Morocco, Africa, and the world,” adding that the sport event is an important step towards promoting Moroccan youth and Africa.
Recalling Morocco’s football passion, the committee says that the country aims at celebrating the sport’s values of tolerance, openness, and respect.
Morocco’s Bid is Not a Communications Stunt
In an interview with BBC Sport, the chief executive of Morocco’s 2026 World Cup bid, Hicham El Amrani, reaffirmed Morocco’s determination and readiness to battle for the right to host the 2026 World Cup.
“We are not here for a communications stunt–we are here to win,” said El Amrani.
For El Amrani, Morocco’s bid will not only need to convince June’s FIFA Congress, but also the FIFA technical team.
Two hundred and eleven federations will vote for their favorable bid on June 13, in Moscow. Morocco has only one competitor, which is the three-nations North American bid (USA-Canada-Mexico).
In January 2017, a unanimous decision expanded FIFA World Cup to 48 teams, beginning in2026. Meanwhile, this year’s World Cup and the following tournament in 2022 in Qatar include only 32 squads.
This decision to extend the competition to include 48 teams, however, does not intimidate Morocco.
“You cannot bid for such a tournament, especially one that’s been increased to 48 teams, without careful consideration–it is not a light decision,” El Amrani stated
For the Moroccan official, Morocco and greater Africa are ready to host massive sports event to celebrate the world and receive international football fans to showcase the “beauty of our country, its diversity and also boost the social, economic and human development of our country and the continent.”
