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Rabat – Can a joint Maghreb bid win the rights to host the 2030 World Cup? According to AMU Secretary-General Taieb Baccouche, the “Maghreb has a real card to play this time.”
In an interview with pan-African magazine Jeune Afrique, the secretary-general of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) expressed his confidence that a Maghreb bid could give Africa a chance to host the World Cup for the second time.
When asked about his support for a joint Maghreb bid, Baccouche said, “The idea was born after two observations: the official support of all the Maghreb for the Moroccan bid and the choice of a World Cup held by three countries in 2026.”
“All this convinced us, at the general secretariat of the UMA, to coordinate a Maghreb bid for 2030 and to start the process,” he added.
The Tunisian politician said that he discussed the joint Maghreb bid idea in the recent African Union summit in Nouakchott.
“By 2030, there will be an Asian bid from China and probably one from three South American countries. The competition is serious, but Africa has not often had a chance.”
Appealing to the 5 heads of state
On Saturday, the AMU wrote on its official Facebook page that Baccouche wrote to the five leaders of AMU countries, urging them to submit a joint bid.
In his letters to the heads of state, the secretary-general emphasized that the Maghreb countries could “learn from the Moroccan experience” and “the great enthusiasm expressed by the people of the Maghreb for the initiative taken by Morocco to submit another Maghreb bid in 2030,” wrote the AMU.
According to Baccouche, a Maghreb bid would be more favorable to FIFA as it “prefers joint bids over single bids.”
FIFA President Infantino announced earlier this month his support for joint bids. “I believe in joint bids because the World Cup is an enormous event.”
Political tension could undermine a joint bid
A joint bid between the Maghreb would require the countries to tackle tense political issues.
Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Hattab said that his country was “ready to study a possible joint bid” with Morocco and Tunisia.
However, a joint bid might be an “impossible mission” as the border between Morocco and Algeria is closed.
Tunisia has also expressed its interest in bidding jointly with Morocco and Algeria.
Morocco has shown great interest in hosting the World Cup, especially in its 2026 World Cup bid. Despite its defeat to United 2026, the North African country announced it would bid for the 2030 World Cup.
But expressing interest will not be enough to fulfill the dream of hosting a World Cup.
