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Morocco announces fresh World Cup bid after defeat

Friday June 15 2018
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Morocco's squad pose for a group picture ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group C football match against Togo in Oyem, Gabon, on January 20, 2017. AFP PHOTO | ISSOUF SANOGO

By BBC

The King of Morocco has insisted that the country must bid for the 2030 World Cup.

It follows the announcement from football's world-governing body Fifa on Wednesday that the north African nation had lost out to the US, Canada and Mexico's joint bid to host the 2026 event.

Moncef Belkhayat, a member of the Moroccan 2026 Bid Committee and former sports minster, confirmed the new bid to the BBC:

"Yes. I am delighted to see that His Majesty the King Mohammed VI has taken the decision to make Morocco a nation bid for World Cup 2030.

"That shows that Morocco is a country of openness, tolerance and shares values of the world, making football a key driver for social development and economic growth.

"It shows also our perseverance to do better and better for the sake of Morocco and worldwide football.”

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By the time the 2026 finals take place, Africa will have hosted just one of 23 World Cups - while Mexico alone will have staged three separate tournaments.

The 2010 finals in South Africa only came about after football's world governing body specifically introduced a rotation system in 2001.

Some African football delegates are keen for Fifa to reintroduce a rotation system for World Cup hosting after Morocco failed attempt to land the 2026 World Cup.

"Rotation would be a solution," said Malawi FA president Walter Nyamilandu.

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