Later this year the FIFA Congress will decide on who will host the 23rd FIFA World Cup. There are only two bids. One is a joint bid by the USA, Canada and Mexico. The other is the Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid. Surely there can only be one winner.
Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid
Horse and cart vs driverless cars.
The train from Tangiers down to Casablanca stops at Dar Gueddari. Outside there are no taxis instead a horse and cart is the only transport option. Parts of Morocco are a far cry from driverless cars in California. Further along, some youths throw stones at the train. Eventually, you reach Casablanca, assuming no breakdowns. There you hope to safely negotiate crossing the street. And even on the pavement, you have to dodge the motorcycles.
Soft power v snake charmers.
Admittedly there are some local developments. But its very hard to see this North African country competing against the marketing might of their North American opposition. Most would argue they have other priorities.
FIFA and Money
In media activities, Morocco has been reluctant to spell out exactly how they will provide the necessary infrastructure to stage an expanded FIFA World Cup. Recently involved in hosting the much lower-key CHAN tournament the auguries are not great. Though the hosts sometimes played in front of 50,000 fans the other matches were watched by a few thousand. Although tickets were often provided free.
Factors like time zone, future development, an undoubtedly fanatical football following (at least for the home country) and the benefit of some anti-USA feeling could sway some. But ultimately revenue generation and infrastructure will play a big part in the hosting decision. And then there can be only one victor.
Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid. No chance?
Morocco was the first country to publicly recognise the newly independent USA, just after their independence. They have a longstanding treaty of friendship since the 18th Century. But some of Morocco still feels like it is in that century. It is very hard to see them getting the vote to host the FIFA 2026 World Cup against the American marketing machine.
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