Morocco appoint minister to chair 2026 World Cup bid committee

RABAT, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- As part of the preparation for Morocco's bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Moroccan king Mohammed VI has chosen Minister of Industry and Investment Hafid Elalamy to chair the country's bid committee, the official MAP news agency said on Wednesday.

Elalamy's work consists in providing all the necessary support to the Moroccan Royal Football Federation (FRMF) and the specific division created within the FRMF, in accordance with FIFA guidelines and specifications, the same source pointed out.

He will act as the government's interlocutor for FIFA and will, hence, be in charge of coordinating the action performed by the various departments concerned.

Last August, Morocco submitted their application to host the 2026 World Cup to the world football governing body FIFA, positioning themselves as the sole challenger to the joint submission from Canada, Mexico and the United States.

This is Morocco's fifth bid to host the World Cups, after their unsuccessful bids for the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 editions of the tournament. Enditem