APA-Kigali (Rwanda) Morocco has formally announced it was jointly bidding with Portugal and Spain to host the 2030 football World Cup.
A letter by Moroccan King Mohammed VI read out on Tuesday by Sport minister Chakib Bensmoussa in Kigali Rwanda, where FIFA is holding its 73rd congress, the kingdom said it is throwing its weight behind its two European neighbours as a third co-host of the prestigious tournament.
“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…It will also bring out the best in all of us – in effect a combination of genius, creativity, experience and means” said the king’s letter.
Ukraine’s position as co-host bidders alongside Portugal and Spain has been thrown into doubt due to the ongoing war with Russia.
South Africa was chosen over Morocco when the World Cup tournament was held in Africa for the first time in 2010.
Morocco’s bid as co-host follows spectacular success at the last World Cup tournament in Qatar where they became the only African representative to reach the semi-final.
They eventually lost to eventual Wor.d Cup runners-up France.
Prior to Morocco’s feat only three African countries, Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) had managed to reach the quarterfinal of a World Cup but fell short of the semifinal stage.
Other joint bidders for the 2030 World Cup are 2022 winners Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
WN/as/APA