The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has officially announced the cancellation of the upcoming game between Morocco and Eritrea, scheduled for November 16, as a part of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
This decision comes in the wake of Eritrea’s withdrawal from the match, a move known as the “Red Camels,” which was declared two weeks prior due to internal issues.
The Eritrean Commissioner for Sports and Culture, Zemede Tekle, who also oversees the National Football Association, has not yet given the green light for the team to participate in the qualifying rounds. Moreover, Eritrea’s decision to pull out also affects their involvement in the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Since 2019, the Eritrean national football team has shown limited activity, with sparse participation in official tournaments or friendly games.
Last September, Morocco maintained its lead as the top Arab and African team, jumping to the 13th position globally, according to FIFA.
The team was followed by Senegal (20th), Tunisia (29th), Algeria (34th), Egypt (35th), and Nigeria (40th).
It’s worth noting that the Moroccan team achieved a significant milestone for the first time in Arab and African history by securing the fourth position in the 2022 World Cup.
The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, confirmed that the 2034 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
The disclosure came after Australia’s choice not to bid for the tournament’s hosting rights.
Football Australia released a statement regarding their decision, stating, “We have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition.”
The upcoming 2026 World Cup is slated for the US, Mexico, and Canada, while the 2030 tournament will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with additional matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
