Why Botswana & Co. turned their backs on Morocco :: Mmegi Online

Allegations of corruption marred the 2022 World Cup bid four years ago. However, this week, there was a new, slightly tolerable elephant in the room as delegates walked through the doors of the five-star Crowne Plazza hotel in Moscow to decide the host of the 2026 showpiece. Political, rather than football allegiances appear to have won the day in Moscow, writes MQONDISI DUBE

Morocco was the biblical David facing a Goliath the moment the two 2026 World Cup bids went through. The North Africans have been unsuccessful in four previous attempts, including missing out on organising the first World Cup on African soil in 2010.

On Wednesday, Morocco became arguably the ‘biggest loser’ in the history of World Cup bids when they made it a fifth successive defeat. Morocco expectedly suffered a heavy loss to the united North American bid, which had the world’s economic superpower, the United States, Canada and Mexico. Morocco garnered 65 votes against 134 for the joint bid.

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