Friday, 20th April 2018
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
    • News Home
    • Search
    • Featured News
    • Press Releases
    • Media
    • Sponsorship
    • Events
    • Bidding
    • Federations
  • Insight
    • Insight Home
    • Interview
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Supplements
    • Magazine
    • Media
    • Sponsorship
    • Events
  • Calendar
    • Calendar Home
    • Search
    • Conferences
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
    • Motor Sports
    • Paralympics
    • Golf
    • Cycling
    • Horse Racing
    • Tennis
  • Directory
    • Directory Home
    • Organisation
    • News
  • Media
    • Media Home
    • Rights
    • Revenue Dashboard
    • Landscape
    • Market Dashboard
    • Directory
    • Property
    • Competition
    • Insight
    • News
  • Sponsorship
    • Sponsorship Home
    • Deals
    • Brands
    • Property
    • Competition
    • Athlete
    • Venue
    • Insight
    • News
  • Events
    • Events Home
    • Events Analysis
    • Events Insight
    • Events News
    • Bidding Opportunities
    • Bids Awarded
    • Bidding Announcements
  • Sports
    • Sports Home
    • Property
    • Competition
  • GSI
    • GSI Home
    • GSI Project
    • GSI Report
    • GSI Event Studies
    • GSI Nations Index
    • GSI Cities Index
    • GSI Events Index
    • GSI Experts
    • GSI Partners
  • Reports
  • News
  • Search
  • Conmebol behind United 2026 as South Africa backs Morocco

Conmebol behind United 2026 as South Africa backs Morocco

Soccer - 16 Apr 2018
Author: Florence Lloyd-Hughes

Conmebol, the South American soccer confederation, has endorsed the North American bid for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, while South Africa has given its backing to the rival bid from Morocco. 

Conmebol follows in the footsteps of the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) which has also pledged its support to the USA-Canada-Mexico bid.

In a statement on Friday, United 2026 said: "The United Bid of Canada, Mexico and the United States is grateful for today's endorsement by Conmebol, the confederation representing ten South American member associations. This announcement builds on the support of UNCAF's six voting member associations that the United Bid was honoured to receive in March. 

“We look forward to continuing our conversations with Member Associations around the world, highlighting the operational and economic certainty of our bid for the entire Fifa family."

The United 2026 bid is up against Morocco in the race to host the World Cup, which has not been played in North America since 1994 when USA was the sole host.

In its submission last month United 2026 announced a list of 23 potential host cities, of which Fifa is expected to choose 16 to stage matches if the bid is successful.  

There are 17 from USA and three each from Mexico and Canada.

If the bid is successful, USA is expected to stage 60 of the 80 matches, with 10 each in the other two host countries. 

Morocco’s bid today received the support of the South Africa Football Association.

Declaring his support, Danny Jordaan, president of Safa, said: “It is an old myth that Africa doesn’t have the capacity and naysayers should stop using the political argument. Africa hosted the best FIFA World Cup ever [in South Africa in 2010] and with good support, Morocco can emulate South Africa.

“South Africa showed the way and I am confident Morocco will follow suit. The country has international standards; from the stadiums to top infrastructure. Morocco can compete with the best in the world.” 

Jordaan was the head of the organising committee for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which was chosen ahead of Morocco to stage that particular tournament.

Earlier this month, officials from Algeria and Angola revealed that they would also be supporting Morocco's bid. 

Government ministers from both Dominica and St Lucia have publicly backed the Moroccan candidacy but the Caribbean Football Union has stressed that the statements do not mean the countries' soccer representatives will vote that way in June. 

Morocco plans to spend around $16 billion to get the country in shape to stage the World Cup. 

Nine new stadiums are planned, including a 93,000-capacity national team home in Casablanca that would stage the opening game and final in 2026.

If both bids pass eligibility tests, the selection of the 2026 World Cup host will be made by the full Fifa membership at a Congress in Moscow on 13 June, the eve of this year's tournament in Russia. 

Officials from Fifa's evaluation task force arrived in Morocco today to begin inspections. 

The group will visit several cities, stadiums and training camps this week.

The task force has already completed its trip to North America, which last week took in Mexico City, Atlanta, Toronto and New York/New Jersey.

Sportcal 

Related Organisations
Organisation
CONMEBOL
United 2026
Morocco 2026 World Cup Bid Committee
Related Competitions
Competition
FIFA World Cup 2026

Want to Read More ?

To view this article you need to subscribe to Sportcal News.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Log in

Top Stories
Event and format reforms on hold as weightlifting battles doping problem
Weightlifting - 20 Apr 2018
World Rowing to extend new 'event attribution process' to 2025 and 2026
Rowing - 19 Apr 2018
WBSC launches marketing arm but MP & Silva keeps Premier 12 rights
Baseball - 19 Apr 2018
Sky earnings and revenues climb amid ownership uncertainty
Business - 19 Apr 2018
Troubled AIBA 'has the potential to become a model governing body'
Boxing - 18 Apr 2018
Latest News
  • GAISF launches process to appoint host city for inaugural World Urban Games
    Games 20 Apr 2018 Federations & NOCs
  • Premier League club revenues up nearly £1bn on back of TV deals last season
    Soccer 20 Apr 2018 Clubs & teams
  • Fontaine: Squash Olympic bid 'no longer one-man show'
    Squash 19 Apr 2018 Federations & NOCs
  • Quinn calls time on Deltatre career
    Business 19 Apr 2018 Directory
  • F1 enters fantasy sports with equity stake in PlayON
    Motor racing 19 Apr 2018 Sponsorship

Related Articles

Infantino stands up for World Cup bids evaluation process
Soccer - 26 Mar 2018 - Bidding
Fifa: President won't meddle in 2026 World Cup process
Soccer - 29 Mar 2018 - Bidding
Qatar lined up for 2019 Copa America
Soccer - 06 Apr 2018 - Events
Fifa 2026 World Cup task force to hit the road next week
Soccer - 06 Apr 2018 - Bidding

Contact Info

  • Allington House, 25 High Street, Wimbledon Village, London SW19 5DX, United Kingdom
  • +44 (0) 20 8944 8786
  • +44 (0) 20 8944 8740
  • clientservices@sportcal.com

© Sportcal 2018 and Database Right 1997-2018 / Sportcal Global Communications Ltd.
All Rights Reserved. Pictures supplied by ©Getty Images.
AdvertiseAbout usContact usPolicy TermsData Protection
Company Registration No. 02592321

Latest Tweets

Twitter Timeline...