Rabat – “Sport is our second religion,” said Mustapha Hadji, the Atlas Lions assistant coach. Two days before the final vote, the former Atlas Lion icon has affirmed his unconditional support for Morocco’s bid to host the World Cup 2026, in an interview shared on Twitter by the bid, Monday, June 11.
#Soutien ?
« Organiser une #CoupeduMonde au #Maroc bénéficierait, en terme de développement, au continent africain entier ». Mustapha Hadji, ballon d’or africain 1998 et adjoint d’@Herve_Renard_HR de l’@EnMaroc, évoque son soutien pour la candidature #Maroc2026 pic.twitter.com/eKfXOdgqId
— Morocco 2026 (@Morocco2026_FR) 11 juin 2018
“Organizing the World Cup in 2026 will be a great opportunity to develop our country. It will benefit to the whole continent,” said Hadji. “Sport is our second religion, our opium, a wonderful opportunity to our youth, to give them hope.”
The former 1998 African gold ball who describes football as “a passion and a tradition” is convinced that Morocco can give to the world “a great sporting competition.”
“We are a big football ground, the World Cup can only be exceptional at home. I believe that 99% of Moroccans live football every day. When there is a great match of any team, all the cafes are full,” said Hervé Renard’s assistant.
The vote to decide which bid will be given the hosting rights of the 2026 World Cup will be held in Moscow during the 68th FIFA Congress on Wednesday, June 13.
According to the agenda, the symposium will begin in Moscow at 9:00 a.m. Moscow time, 6:00 a.m. in Morocco. The kingdom will is facing fierce competition for the rights from the three North American countries: Canad, the US, and Mexico.
The bidding nations—Morocco and the three North Americans—cannot vote. Morocco will need to receive 104 votes to host the tournament. The North African country has at least 20 votes from several European and African countries in its pocket. But Morocco has more than a slim chance to win as 207 federations are set to vote.
