By Andrew Warshaw
May 3 – The two bidding candidates for the 2026 World Cup made back-to-back presentations in the same European city today as they pitched their respective campaigns before the six Nordic nations whose support could prove crucial come the all-important vote next month.
Favourites United 2026, comprising the United States, Canada and Mexico, and underdogs Morocco were invited to Copenhagen and took it in turns to appear before the heads of the Nordic federations in what was widely regarded as one of the most important European stops on the campaign trail.
While there was no immediate indication about which presentation went down best, both sides will be anxious to have made a lasting impression. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland the Faroe Islands invariably vote as a bloc and should the European vote be split, their backing could end up being pivotal. Hence a healthy media presence in the Danish capital.
Meantime, Morocco have picked up support from two more federations in its bid to upset the odds and claim the World Cup at the fifth time of asking.
Myanmar and Gambia have been added to the list of countries that have publicly shown their support. The President of the Myanmar Football Federation, Zaw Zaw, commented: “For decades, Moroccan football has achieved excellent results that the Myanmar Federation can only appreciate and, therefore, unequivocally supports the Kingdom’s candidacy.”
And in what is being widely interpreted as a response to US president Donald Trump’s recent tweets and his request to African countries to endorse the U.S.-Canada-Mexico bid, Gambian Football Federation president Lamin Kaba Bajo said his Continent must not be intimidated into abandoning one of their own.
In a local interview, Bajo said: “We will not be apologetic about it. We are not scared to say that we are fully behind the Moroccan bid and when the time comes, we will fulfil our obligations towards that.”
“As an African and as very close friend of Morocco in football and at CAF level, we cannot afford to be in any other camp other than the Moroccan camp.”
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