By Karen Duarte
By Karen Duarte
Rabat – In efforts to support Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup, a Moroccan delegation met with Qatar Football Association (QFA) president and other high officials on Saturday in Doha.
The delegation of Morocco’s 2026 FIFA World Cup bid includes Secretary of State for Water, Charafate Afailal; Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, Rkia Derham; Abderahim Souiri, a member of the Executive Board of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF); and chairwoman of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All, Nezha Bidouane.
The Moroccan delegation met with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, president of QFA, along with Vice President Saud al-Mohannadi.
Also, present was Hassan Abdullah al-Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
The Vice President of the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence also attended the meeting, during which official exchanged souvenirs. .
Qatar officials congratulated the guest delegation as the Morocco World Cup bid was approved to enter the final vote, which will be taking place on June 13 at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow.
Morocco will be competing in a combined World Cup bid with the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, a host of delegates from Qatar are heading for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. QFA is heading to Russia to gain organizational expertise as they prepare to host the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA will hold a three-day workshop and will be part of the SC’s Observation Programme where the QFA delegation will gain first-hand experience in organizing a major sporting event.
Qatar will be the first Arab state to host a World Cup in 2022.
Morocco hopes to be the second Arab state and second African country to host this world-wide event in 2026.
