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Rabat – Spain and Portugal have expressed their excitement over the 2030 World Cup Joint bid, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez describing it as a “very good [ and] positive message” to the world.
“We should be happy with his decision, because it puts this bid in a better position to win this race,” he said in a joint press conference with the Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa.
Costa echoed Sanchez’ remarks, stressing that the bid sends a “very important message to the whole world, to Europe and to Africa. We are two neighboring continents that want to work together.”
He added, “Through this candidacy, what we want is to celebrate sport together by defending a fair and balanced competition.”
Morocco officially announced its decision to join the transcontinental bid on Tuesday in Kigali, Rwanda at the CAF President Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony.
Chakib Benmoussa, Morocco’s Minister of Sports, announced the news through a written message King Mohammed VI addressed to the participants at the CAF awards ceremony.
“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 2023 World Cup,” said the message read by Benmoussa on behalf of King Mohammed VI.
“This 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,” the monarch added. “It will also bring out the best in all of us – in effect, a combination of genius, creativity, experience, and means.”
The announcement made international headlines, with many agreeing it is a historic bid that convenes two continents and brings together diverse cultures.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time Morocco bids to host FIFA’s biggest football event.
In 2018, the North African country lost its bid to host the 2026 World Cup to the joint bid of the US, Mexico, and Canada.
The joint American bid received 134 votes, while Morocco only secured 65 votes.
But with Morocco now bidding as part of a Euro-African platform, many have suggested that the North African country finally stands greater chances of hosting World Cup games.
