Morocco is setting its sights high as it partners with neighboring Spain and Portugal in a bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, aiming to transform this dream opportunity into a catalyst for infrastructural development and an enhancement of its soft power.
A full 35 years after its initial attempt to host the 1994 edition, and following four other unsuccessful bids, Morocco is poised to host the global sporting event for the first time in its history.
This comes after the Moroccan-Spanish-Portuguese bid was adopted as the sole candidate for the 2030 edition by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in early October, with South America being awarded three matches in the process.
However, the joint bid still needs to succeed in the evaluation process, with FIFA’s final decision to be confirmed during a conference scheduled for 2024.
Demonstrating their unwavering commitment to this dream, Morocco declared its intention to bid for the 2030 World Cup just five years ago, a mere day after losing the bid for the 2026 edition. This was followed by King Mohammed VI’s announcement in March that Morocco would join forces with Spain and Portugal in a joint bid.
This determination is not solely driven by the Moroccan passion for football, showcased by their impressive fourth-place finish at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, or their desire to bolster the country’s international presence.
It is also rooted in the belief that “organizing major sporting events is an opportunity for development. We could achieve in six years what might otherwise take us 20 years in terms of infrastructure,” according to Mansaf Al Yazghi, a sports affairs researcher, in his conversation with AFP.
On the sporting front, the kingdom has ambitious plans to construct a major stadium in the town of Benslimane, located in the northern suburbs of Casablanca, at an estimated cost of nearly 5 billion Moroccan Dirhams (approximately 460 million US Dollars), as announced by the Moroccan government.
Additionally, six other stadiums in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fes, Agadir, and Tangier are set to undergo rehabilitation to be ready to host both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The work will be carried out in two phases, set to be completed by 2028, with a total budget ranging from 14 to 15.5 billion Moroccan Dirhams (approximately 1.3 to 1.5 billion US Dollars).
This strategic investment in sports infrastructure, coupled with the potential global exposure from hosting the World Cup, positions Morocco to significantly enhance its international stature and accelerate its infrastructural development, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.
