By Andrew Warshaw
June 5 – Morocco’s 2026 World Cup bid leaders have been refused permission to make a final presentation to FIFA’s South American voters ahead of the all-important ballot on June 13.
Unlike other confederations which are understood to be happy to facilitate both Morocco and the favoured United 2026 bid in a last-ditch pitch for support, the underdogs have been told they are not wanted when Conmebol holds a regional meeting of its 10 member nations in Moscow two days before the vote.
Having already been dealt a serious blow by being rated way behind the heavyweight North American favourites by FIFA’s evaluation panel, Morocco are stepping on the gas in a late drive for votes and were hoping to address all six confederations.
Bid regulations permit the rivals to do just that ahead of FIFA Congress but the office of Conmebol’s new leader Alejandro Dominguez has made it clear the Moroccans are wasting their time and that any pitch would fall on deaf ears since his members have already made up their minds.
In a letter to the Moroccans which raises questions over perceived systematic bias of a confederation, the Conmebol secretariat says that not only will time be limited but that Morocco has already presented to its senior officials.
Seen by Insideworldfootball, the brief correspondence concludes: “Please also consider that Conmebol has confirmed his commitment to support the Canada, Mexico and USA BID.”
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is widely reported to support United 2026, says his organisation will have to live with it if Morocco upsets the odds even though the rival North American bid promises billions of dollars more in revenue.
“We have to live with that and to make the best of any decision which is taken,” said Infantino. “What our task has been is to make sure the process is as objective, as clear as possible and to highlight the pros and the cons of everything.”
Infantino would not be drawn on whether U.S President Donald Trump’s recent veiled threats of consequences for countries not supporting the American bid could be a factor in the poll either way.
“I hope when they vote they think what is best for football, definitely not on other subjective criteria that they might have for themselves,” Infantino said.
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