Morocco joins Spain and Portugal in bid to co-host 2030 World Cup

Morocco has announced its bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. This will be Morocco’s sixth attempt to host the World Cup, having made unsuccessful bids in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, and 2026.

If successful, Morocco will become the first nation in North Africa to host World Cup games. The announcement comes after Ukraine was replaced in the bid after initial plans to host the competition.

The Spanish, Portuguese, and Ukrainian bid was made public in October 2022, but faced opposition due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. UEFA supported the bid, stating that it aimed to contribute to the recovery of a country undergoing reconstruction.

However, recent missile attacks in Ukraine have made it less likely for the nation to host the World Cup group-stage games. The arrest of Ukrainian FA president Andriy Pavelko in November has also created uncertainty at the top of the organization.

Morocco’s bid will face competition from a combined offer by Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, who have prepared their own bid for the tournament’s 100th anniversary.