World Cup: Moroccan Federation officially candidate for the hosting of the 2026 edition

"The Royal Moroccan Football Federation officially presented its candidature on Friday, 11/08/2017 to host the 2026 World Cup. The Federation has filed its application dossier to the relevant committees of FIFA to welcome this world event," the Moroccan Federation announced on 11/08/2017.

This is its fifth candidacy, after those for 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010. Africa has hosted only one of the 22 World Cup editions already awarded from 1930 to 2022 (see below), that of 2010, held in South Africa.

The 2026 edition will be the first with 48 teams, instead of 32 (since 1998) and 80 matches (instead of 64). The only other application already registered is the joint application from the United States, Mexico, and Canada, filed on 10/04/2017.

Ahmad Ahmad, president of the Confederation of African Football, said he was "convinced" that Morocco could host the 2026 World Cup. Morocco was to host the 2015 African Cup of Nations, but eventually declined to host it because of fears related to the Ebola epidemic.