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Rabat – President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe said Morocco’s joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup represents the whole African continent.
On Thursday, the CAF Executive Committee unanimously agreed to support Morocco’s joint bid with Spain and Portugal to host the football tournament.
Commenting on the CAF decision, Motsepe stressed that the decision means that the bid of Morocco is “now the bid of the African continent.”
“We are now focusing on ensuring that Africa once more hosts the FIFA World Cup and are committed to working together with all Football National Associations and Confederations to make this happen,” he added.
Morocco announced its decision to join the Spain-Portugal joint bid on March 14, with King Mohammed VI stressing that the bid will bring together Africa and Europe, as well as the northern and southern Mediterranean, and Arab and Euro Mediterranean worlds.
The bid has received support from many, including Spain and Portugal, as well as European football’s governing body UEFA.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said on Wednesday that the joint bid is a good idea and “makes sense” as the North African country is “very, very close to Spain and Portugal.”
In addition to the World Cup, Morocco also announced its readiness to organize and host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In October 2022, Morocco’s news agency MAP cited a source close to Morocco’s Football Federation (FRMF) confirming that the North African country intends to propose its candidacy to host the continental tournament.
Algeria also confirmed last year its intention to submit its bid to host the AFCON.
The bids came after CAF withdrew the hosting rights from Guinea due to a lack of infrastructure and equipment.
Several countries have expressed support for Morocco’s bid, including Liberia.
“The Liberian Leader has already expressed his ‘fullest and strong’ support for the Moroccan bid instead, which he has further emphasized to the Government of Morocco,” a statement from Liberia’s government said in January.
Botswana also expressed support for Morocco’s bid in 2022.
Morocco has not hosted AFCON since 1988. The country has shown readiness to host global tournaments, following the successful hosting of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and FIFA Club World Cup.
