2026 TOURNAMENT
SA under pressure to back Morocco World Cup bid
The two countries have had strained relations since Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Pretoria in 2004
African football’s leadership will attempt on Wednesday to persuade SA to keep backing Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup, soccer officials said on Tuesday. SA, the first African country to host the World Cup in 2010, is threatening to break ranks and vote for the rival North American bid in what would be a blow to the African cause. Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Ahmad Ahmad hopes to persuade the South African Football Association (Safa) representatives to back Morocco’s bid when they meet in Johannesburg. Last week Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa urged Safa not to vote for Morocco at the Fifa congress in Moscow on June 13, when member countries of world football’s governing body vote to decide where the 2026 finals will be played. The two countries have had strained relations since Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Pretoria in 2004 when SA recognised the independence of the Western Sahara. "We are very clear that we can’t support Morocco. Our Parliament w...
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