April 4 – Dominica has become the second CONCACAF nation after St Lucia to come out and confirm it is backing Morocco for the 2026 World Cup despite being part of the same confederation as the rival United 2026 bid.
Foreign Minister Francine Baron made the announcement on Tuesday, further evidence that the ballot on June 13 could be closer than anticipated – provided Morocco gets on the ballot paper by passing the evaluation inspection scheduled for later this month.
“On behalf of Dominica, I am pleased to announce the support of my country for Morocco in the organisation of the 2026 World Cup,” Baron said in a statement after a meeting with Morocco’s ambassador to Saint Lucia Abderrahim Kadmiri.
Baron hailed the strong ties between the two countries in several areas, notably agriculture and tourism.
“Dominica, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria, has a lot to learn from Morocco, which could help us become the first climate resilient country in the world,” said Baron, who lauded the scholarships granted to her country’s students by north African country.
Such statements of support are nothing new in the geo-political complexities that surround World Cup bidding. But the difference this time is that the ballot is an open vote of all FIFA members, meaning that public promises beforehand should be translated into actual votes on the day – in theory at least – with the two candidates knowing exactly who to point the finger at if they end up being let down.
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