European football giants, Spain and Portugal, have expressed their delight with Morocco over the 2030 World Cup Joint bid proposed by the North African country.
Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, on Thursday, described the bid as a “very good and positive message to the world,” that football has the capability of bringing nations together.
“The bid sends a very important message to the whole world, to Europe and to Africa. We are two neighboring continents that want to work together.”
“Through this bid, what we want is to celebrate sport together by defending a fair and balanced competition.”
On his part, Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, who addressed a joint press conference, said:
“We should be happy with his decision, because it puts this bid in a better position to win this race.”
Morocco officially announced its decision to make a transcontinental bid with Spain and Portugal on Tuesday during the CAF President Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda.
Morocco’s Minister of Sports, Chakib Benmoussa, had announced the bid through a written message by King Mohammed VI, addressed to the participants at the CAF awards ceremony.
“I would like to announce, before this assembly, that the Kingdom of Morocco has decided, together with Spain and Portugal, to present a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup,” the message said.
“This joint bid, which is unprecedented in football history, will bring together Africa and Europe, the northern and southern Mediterranean, and the African, Arab and Euro-Mediterranean worlds.”
“It will also bring out the best in all of us – in effect, a combination of genius, creativity, experience, and means,” the Monarch added.
This is not the first time Morocco is bidding to host the FIFA, though.
In 2018, the North African country lost its bid to host the 2026 World Cup to the joint bid of the US, Mexico, and Canada but with its recent giant strides, especially reaching the semi final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and successfully hosting the FIFA Club tournament, the current bid is seen by many as having the potential of sailing through.