Morocco joins World Cup bid for the fifth time

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Bengaluru: Morocco will bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

It is for the fifth time that the African country is bidding to host the event after previous failed attempts in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010.

Morocco officially becomes the second interested party after the United States, Canada and Mexico had already announced a joint North American bid to host the tournament in April.

The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed it had told the sport's world governing body FIFA about its interest to host the greatest football showpiece on earth.

If successful, Morocco would become only the second African country to host football's flagship event following South Africa in 2010.

The north Africans have received backing from African federation President Ahmad Ahmad, who said he was "convinced" the country is ready to host a World Cup.

Morocco had won the right to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations but pulled out at the 11th hour over concerns related to the Ebola outbreak in western Africa at the time.

But the country has embarked on a professionalisation drive to improve its football infrastructure while increasing its candidacies for various tournaments in order to improve its chances of landing a much coveted World Cup.

The 2026 tournament will be the first with an expanded 48-team tournament, up from the current 32 qualifiers. It was an idea conceived by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.