Standfirst: Africa will be the stage for FIFA World Cup matches for only the second time in the 100-year history of football’s greatest show when Morocco co-host the 2030 tournament with Spain and Portugal.
It follows South Africa’s successful tournament in 2010, when the frowns of a doubting global audience turned to cheers and smiles as the country created a party atmosphere like no other yet seen at a World Cup.
Those glorious four weeks changed perceptions about the country and the continent, and has left a lasting legacy in terms of infrastructure and goodwill, not all of which has been properly utilized in the ensuing 15 years.
It will be Morocco’s turn in five years’ time, though the goalposts have shifted since 2010.
Back then, the World Cup was a 32-team tournament that has since been expanded to 48 sides, a new format that kicks in at the next edition in 2026 when the United States, Canada and Mexico are co-hosts.
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Just how many matches Morocco will host in 2030 is still to be determined, but however many, it will not have the same heavy burden on stadia, training facilities and tourism infrastructure that South Africa endured.
Still, the North African nation plans to invest greatly ahead of the tournament, the bulk of which is likely to be played in Spain.
A proposed new 115,000-seater Hassan II Stadium is set to be constructed in Casablanca, which would make it the largest purpose-built stadium in the world. Construction has yet to start.
There is another new 68,700-seater venue proposed for Rabat which is currently under construction.
FIFA, in their wisdom, have announced that the opening three games of the World Cup will be staged in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, as a nod to the centenary celebrations of the first tournament held in the latter in 1930.
That has been criticized by climate campaigners as creating too large a carbon footprint, but once the action shifts to the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco from game number four, it will be a condensed event with simpler travel links.
While this will be Morocco’s moment to shine, it is also a chance for Africa to reaffirm its position in the global game by proving an able and desirable co-host.
With the new 48-team format, there are only so many countries that can be a single host of the tournament. Saudi Arabia will be in 2034 because they can develop the infrastructure they need.
Certainly, within an African context, the co-hosting model looks the most likely when the continent’s next turn comes around in 2050 or 2054.
“The Morocco, Portugal and Spain partnership brings together and unites Africa and Europe through football, and inspires all of us to work together and make the world a better place,” Confederation of African football president Dr Patrice Motsepe said.
He lobbied hard for the tournament in Morocco and while there was no serious opposition to the Bid, he made sure African nations united behind it.
“The 2030 World Cup is a source of immense pride for the entire African continent. This is truly Africa’s World Cup. Morocco has set the standard for Africa. The work (the country) has done serves as a model for sustainable football development across the continent.”
Five years may seem a long way away, but it goes by in the blink of an eye and there is much work to be done by Morocco to be ready for the tournament.
But they will add a different flavor to the Iberian duo, and a welcome dash of North African culture.
Morocco have bid several times before for the World Cup, including losing out to South Africa in 2010, but their time has now come.
They will want to put on a good show primarily for themselves, but also to showcase that African football deserves its place at the top table. It is a moment for the whole continent to celebrate.
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