Morocco’s World Cup hosting chances receives significant boost after main rivals withdraw bid

Morocco’s chances of hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup have received a major boost after Saudi Arabia reportedly withdrew their bid for hosting rights to the tournament. 

Morocco, which is involved in a joint bid with Spain and Portugal to host the first intercontinental World Cup in history, is believed to be in pole position to land the hosting rights for the 2030 edition of the tournament following the Arabians’ decision to pull out. 

Saudi Arabia was involved in a joint bid of their own alongside Egypt and Greece but has now reportedly pulled out of the process, according to Spanish outlet Marca. 

The publication alleges that Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has informed the other two countries’ football associations of their decision to withdraw from the process owing to the Arabians’ recognition of a stronger bid from the Spain, Portugal, and Morocco conglomerate. 

It is unclear whether Greece and Egypt will follow Saudi Arabia in quitting the bidding process at this stage, despite the Middle Eastern country being believed to be the main backers of the bid for the 2030 World Cup hosting rights. 

The main challenge to Morocco’s hosting rights for the World Cup remains a joint bid from South American countries Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay, who are keen on hosting the first World Cup on the continent since Brazil played hosts in 2014. 

After holding the world of football spellbound at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where they became the first African country to reach the semifinals of the tournament, Morocco is hoping to ride on that momentum to bring the competition closer to the continent by becoming only the second African nation in history to host the World Cup.