Morocco not without hope of upstaging ‘United’ bid to win 2026 race
TODAY marks the beginning of a new era for FIFA, though it already feels like an organisation struggling wildly to shake off scandals of the past.
In that sense, there is no better day to bury bad news and in Moscow, on the eve of a World Cup that already boasts enough controversy, more than 200 FIFA delegates will case their vote for which country they wish to host the first-ever 48-team World Cup in 2026, with an anticipated 201 votes to be cast when four overseas American territories are excluded, as well as Ghana and Kosovo who aren’t expected to attend.
It will be the first decision of its kind since the wolves of the FBI blew down FIFA’s house of gilded straw in 2015. The recriminations and fallout of those early-morning raids in Baur-au-Lac, Switzerland, continue to be felt in every move that world football’s governing body makes and the incredible details of how a mafia-like organisation was taken down by American law enforcement officials are explained in rigorous, barely-believable depth by Ken Bensinger in his new book, ‘Red Card’, particularly the almost comic-book villainy of Concacaf chief Chuck Blazer.
DOWNFALL
Yet America’s involvement in the downfall of FIFA’s established order is just one of a number of factors working against the socalled United bid to host the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. While notionally it is a continental bid that services Concacaf’s biggest federations, the reality is of a large-scale American tournament with lip service paid to those north and south of Donald Trump’s ideological walls.
Promising money to associations has been a historically successful strategy within FIFA, where the green of the dollar is far more powerful than that of the football field, but with what could be described as strong indifference towards the Americans, Morocco have emerged as genuine contenders to win the vote.
On the surface their bid is rather ambitious. No stadiums exist that would currently be up to scratch, the travel infrastructure and accommodation in place is nowhere near the quality or quantity required to cater for 48 teams and delegations and fans.
And yet they have a chance. Taking only a second-ever World Cup to Africa is a popular idea in areas that also harbour dreams of one day hosting the competition. The television timings of a Moroccan tournament would be far better for FIFA.
However, these votes are won on trade-offs and bargaining, agreements made over polished tables. Both bids have met in excess of 150 delegations to try and sell their 2026 dream but only one can win.