Morocco, Portugal, and Spain Officially Confirm Joint Bid for 2030 FIFA World Cup

Ouagadougou — Leaders of the football federations from Morocco, Portugal, and Spain convened in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday to formally express their intention to bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

According to a new release by Burkina Information Agency, the meeting was to sign a letter confirming their collective interest in the tournament and to celebrate the official milestone.

The bid process, officially initiated by FIFA, saw the presidents—Fouzi Lekjaa of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fernando Gomes of the Portuguese Football Federation, and Pedro Rocha of the Royal Spanish Football Federation—discuss their vision for a tournament that would have a global impact and strengthen the heritage of the FIFA World Cup.

The proposed 2030 World Cup aims to be an accessible and fan-focused event that benefits the entire football ecosystem. It would be the first men’s World Cup hosted on two continents, focusing on strengthening ties between Europe, Africa, and the rest of the world. The intercontinental nature of the tournament is intended to showcase the diversity of football, promote international collaboration, and leave a lasting social legacy.

Fouzi Lekjaa emphasized the historic aspects of the joint bid, stating that the World Cup would symbolize the unity of civilizations established over a millennium ago and showcase collective success and shared prosperity.

Fernando Gomes pointed out that hosting the 2030 World Cup is more than just a celebration of the tournament’s centenary; it represents a paradigm shift in the organization of major events, driven by the ambition and skills of the three federations.

Pedro Rocha underscored the potential for the World Cup to be a message of hope, inclusion, diversity, and respect, with a significant social legacy for Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and the global community.

The presidents acknowledged that decisions regarding the stadiums to be included in the final bid are premature at this stage, pending ongoing technical evaluations.

The next phase in FIFA’s bidding process will require the three football federations to submit their formal bidding agreements by the end of November 2023.