Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed “unwavering” support for Morocco joining Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
CAF’s executive committee announced its support for Morocco during a videoconference meeting on Wednesday.
President of European football’s governing body UEFA, Aleksander Cefero, also extended his support for Morocco’s joint bid.
“I think it’s a good idea,” he said in a news conference in Lisbon on Wednesday.
“It makes sense to join with Morocco. Morocco is very, very close to Spain and to Portugal,” he said following the UEFA Congress.
On March 14, Morocco officially announced its decision to join the Spain-Portugal joint bid as a potential host for the 2030 World Cup.
King Mohammed VI announced Morocco’s decision in a message he addressed to the CAF President Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda.
“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 King’s message, read by Minister of Sports Chakib Benmoussa, said.
Both Spain and Portugal expressed excitement about the joint bid.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described it as a “very good” and “positive” message to the world.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio 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.
This is not the first time Morocco bids to host the global tournament. Morocco lost its bid to host the 2026 World Cup to the joint bid of the US, Mexico, and Canada in 2018.
The North American bid received 134 votes, while Morocco only secured 65 votes.
