2026 W/Cup: CAF Will Support Morocco’s Bid, Pinnick Says

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has thrown its weight behind Morocco, as the North African nation bids to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Sports, Amaju Pinnick, member of the CAF Executive Committee, said Morocco will meet FIFA’s August deadline to submit its bid to host the tournament.

He also said that Morocco will receive CAF’s backing as they look to become Africa’s second World Cup hosts.

South Africa is the only African nations to host the World Cup finals, when they staged the event in 2010.

“I’ve been told Morocco wants to put in its bid and CAF will support them 100%,” Pinnick said.

“I’d be surprised if they don’t submit a bid, but I think they will.

“It’s a country that can host the world, they are very hospitable people, there is a good network of roads and have practically everything.

“If they want to host the World Cup, CAF will support them 100%.” the NFF President added.

Interested countries have until August 11 to submit their bids, with the USA, Canada and Mexico having already expressed their interest. Colombia is also been rumoured to be considering a bid for the 2026 event.

The tournament must be held in one of only four confederations, with Europe and Asia excluded from the bidding due to FIFA’s rotational hosting policy.

Morocco has already bided for four previous World Cups – in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd FIFA World Cup. The international men’s football championship is competed by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA and the contest reoccurs every four years.

The tournament will be the first to feature 48 teams, after FIFA approved expansion from 32 teams in January 2017.