Morocco has proposed using 14 stadiums and budgeting to spend 15.8 billion dollars on infrastructure if it wins the right to host the World Cup soccer finals in 2026, the country’s bid committee announced at a news conference on Saturday.
Saturday’s news conference revealed details of Morocco’s bid book, which was presented to FIFA on Friday, with the central theme being making their football infrastructure sustainable after the tournament and keeping down construction costs.
Moulay Hafid Elalamy, the chairman of Morocco’s 2026 World Cup bid committee,spoke to International press conference at the Sofitel hotel in Casablanca to outline the bid book items.
Moulay unveiled key components of Morocco’s bid the presentation four
months before the June 13 final vote by FIFA’s Congress.
The Chairman emphasised that $3 billion would be required for World Cup 2026 specific investment as the government has guaranteed $15.8 billion for infrastructure to which $9.6 billion will accelerate pre-planned public investment and stimulate $3.2 billion of private-sector hotel investments.
The chairman also alluded to the fact that Morocco build six “legacy modular stadiums” specifically designed to be downscaled after the tournament to provide a meaningful,lasting legacy both for Morocco and Africa.
“We are promising a compact FIFA World Cup that will provide seamless travel for both the players and the fans.Our beautiful and welcoming nation offers players and fans something very special with just one time-zone,one currency and all host cities are within a 550km radius from Casablanca,meaning limited travel and simple logistics” Moulay Hafid Elalamy told the media and dignitaries present.
“The World Cup is a national priority for our government and that is why it has guaranteed the required investment in our exciting and innovative stadium plans,” added Elalamy.
Morocco is up against a joint bid from Canada, Mexico and the United States when world soccer governing body FIFA’s member countries decide in Moscow on June 13 who will host the tournament eight years from now.
Morocco bid unsuccessfully to stage the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 World Cups. The country was second to the U.S. in ‘94, behind France in ‘98 and just lost out to South Africa for the 2010 finals, the only time the event has been held in Africa.
