November 24 – Will CONCACAF have to fight off an African bid to stage the 2026 World Cup? Although the confederation of north and central America is widely considered a shoo-in to stage the event – whether in the United States, Mexico or Canada, or a combination of all three – the head of African football says his body will support Morocco, which has tried and failed four times, should it launch a counter-bid.
“If Morocco decides to put its name forward for a fifth time, we would naturally be supportive,” Issa Hayatou (pictured), head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was quoted as saying during a recent visit to the country.
Morocco lost bids to host the World Cup in 1994, 1998, 2006, and 2010, losing out to the United States, France, Germany, and South Africa respectively. No other nation has launched as many bids without ever gaining hosting rights.
Hayatou, a FIFA vice-president who was in temporary charge of the world governing body between the eras of Sepp Blatter and Gianni Infantino, appears keen to build bridges with Morocco who were banned from two African Nations Cups for pulling out of hosting last year’s competition over the threat of Ebola.
He said the country had all the necessary transport and infrastructure and was well capable of putting on “the biggest international sporting events” – comments that are bound to be noted not only among the CONCACAF hierarchy but also by Infantino who wants to restore the World Cup rotation system.
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