Morocco, the first African nation to reach the men’s World Cup semi-finals last year, wants to bid alongside Spain and Portugal for the 2030 edition, officials have said.
Last October, Spain and Portugal announced their joint bid and speculated on adding Ukraine as a third country.
But the war is still raging in Ukraine, and teaming up with Morocco may make more sense, although the Spanish football federation has yet to confirm Morocco is joining the bid.
The three countries will talk ahead of Thursday’s FIFA Congress in Rwanda.
“This bid, which is unique in the history of football, is one of clear links: between Africa and Europe, between the north and south of the Mediterranean, and between the African and Arab worlds and the European Mediterranean,” Morocco’s King Mohammed VI said in a statement.
Morocco had bid for the 2026 World Cup, but the US, Canada, and Mexico won the hosting rights.
The 2026 tournament will be increased to 48 teams from 32 and will have a record 104 games.
The increase in matches makes a double, triple, or even four-nation hosting more likely.
Also, it helps Morocco’s cause by becoming only the second African and second Arab nation to host a World Cup.
Morocco’s sport minister Chakib Benmoussa unveiled details of the North African nation’s bid Tuesday, citing a letter from Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.
Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay are bidding together, while Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Serbia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia—in various constellations—have shown interest.
