Morocco World Cup bid wins backing of FIFA figures

The newly inaugurated president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed support for Morocco concerning a potential bid by the north African kingdom to host the 2026 World Cup, four years after fellow Arab League member state Qatar.

"We are convinced that Morocco could organise this competition just as South Africa did in 2010," said Ahmad Ahmad, addressing a press conference in Marrakesh on Wednesday.

Ahmad replaced former CAF chief Issa Hayatou earlier this month.

Morocco lost out in bids to host the World Cup in 1994, 1998, 2006, and 2010.

These tournaments were hosted by the United States, France, Germany, and South Africa.

No other state has launched four unsuccessful bids to host the tournament.

Ahmad's comments follow on from a statement made by Gianni Infantino in which the President of Fifa also said that Morocco was capable of hosting the global football competition.

Ahmad replaced former CAF chief Issa Hayatou earlier this month.

Speaking in November Infantino said that Morocco's "infrastructures and its organisational capacity" made it suitable to host a World Cup.

In the past month, rumours, circulated in football magazines, have suggested that the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, has approached Spain’s King Felipe VI over the prospect of launching a joint campaign to host the 2026 World Cup, in a bid that could also include Portugal.

Canada, Mexico, and the US are also said to be mulling a joint bid.

A bid from the CONCACAF region (encompassing North and Central America, in addition to the Carribean) is favourite to host the 2026 World Cup as it has not hosted the tournament since USA 94.

However, recent statements from Ahmad, and Infantino, suggest that Fifa may look favourably upon a Moroccan bid.

The next two World Cups in 2018, and 2022, are set to take place in Russia, and Qatar respectively.