United States-led 2026 World Cup bid in jeopardy to Morocco's

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http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wor...-world-cup-bid-in-jeopardy-to-morocco-sources
One official who is in regular contact with all of the continental confederations estimated that Morocco has the support of much of Asia and South America, as well as its home continent of Africa, which would put it over the 104 votes needed.
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The trickier question for the North American bid is actually something remarkably basic: at this particular moment in time, does the world want to give something nice to the United States?

There was already a leeriness towards the United States in corners of the football world, particularly in South America, as some national federations remain upset over how an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice exposed widespread corruption among their executives.

More recently, however, the North American bid has had to counter an anti-American sentiment that stems largely from actions taken by President Donald Trump's administration, multiple sources said. Those actions include a travel ban affecting mostly-Arab countries, public comments that perpetuate stereotypes and the reported use of profanity in describing poorer countries.

When North American bid officials visit with federation officials in a foreign country, sources said they rarely get questions about stadiums or hotels, according to sources; rather, they have been quizzed about whether the United States can be considered a friendly place for foreigners.
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What a joke if Morocco wins the bid over the North American one.
 
USA are the obvious choice for events like this we do not have to waste money building stadiums since we already wasted a ton of money building stadiums.
 
USA is the obvious choice because they will have everything ready in time to host a proper WC. The problems come from off pitch relate obviously. Assuming Trump regain office for maximum 8 years, how will Muslim-based country will get treatment over there. Next presidential election will hold the key i think. We can not just assuming this is just a football matter. When it comes to hosting WC everything must take into consideration, Its the biggest event on earth, bigger than Olympic i think, safety for everyone involve is a must.
But if only footballing matter, we can assume USA is more than ready
 
The US isn't an obvious choice as long as it's president keeps insulting other countries.. US Mexican relations are also not great, which won't help the bid.
 
NM said:
The US isn't an obvious choice as long as it's president keeps insulting other countries.. US Mexican relations are also not great, which won't help the bid.
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He'll be gone either before his term or he won't get another one. This whole experiment by the 'unheard' people has blown up in their faces. We have the facilities, the security, and the cities to take on the job.
 
ReallyUSA said:
He'll be gone either before his term or he won't get another one. This whole experiment by the 'unheard' people has blown up in their faces. We have the facilities, the security, and the cities to take on the job.
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They said he will be long gone at GOP election for Presidential candidate, they said Hillary will blow him off the park at the election. I will not bet again he will be long gone before next election.
Yes USA have all the facilities to host a WC. But i doubt they have the people behind it to make it a good host nation.
 
You always get the feeling the general US population doesn't care about football so you're always cautious to give them a World Cup when smaller countries, where football is more revered, are also bidding.
 
ReallyUSA said:
He'll be gone either before his term or he won't get another one. This whole experiment by the 'unheard' people has blown up in their faces. We have the facilities, the security, and the cities to take on the job.
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Irrelevant. The vote is now. I would love the US to get it (since I plan to be here in 2026) but I fully understand why other countries are hesitant to vote for them.
 
The US had the most fans at the last world cup above all other countries so attendance or interest wouldn't be a problem. Infrastructure is already in place and as for the political issues, Trump will have been in office 8 years and done after 2024. People mention the travel ban but how many fans will really be traveling from Syria, Yemen, Libya, or Somalia? The US makes too much sense so FIFA will of course award it to a country that is in no way ready to host.
 
Captain Obvious said:
Eh, the US gave us Trump who has slandered everyone thats not a white christian american male.

Hope they don't get it. It's a shithole. Can they not just give it to Canada and Mexico?
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Jeb?

Keep the politics out of football please, no way in hell it should go to Morroco especially as America already has the facilities and is a rising footballing nation.
 
How the feck is the US getting another world cup, and we haven't had one since 1966?
 
Man of Leisure said:
http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wor...-world-cup-bid-in-jeopardy-to-morocco-sources
What a joke if Morocco wins the bid over the North American one.
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Not sure why you'd think that unless it's based on bias. Morocco makes sense from a lot of numerous perspectives; African country, not hosted a WC before, geographically well positioned, great tourist infrastructure (and destination), solid not extremist Govt. not (that I am aware of) associated with any ongoing atrocities or terrorist groups, a muslim country but religiously tolerant, a bit hot in Summer but not Middle East hot since it's actually just a 30 mins flight from Spain/Portugal/Italy. There's an awful lot going for it. The USA does have some negatives too (we can leave Trump out of it because he will be gone next term).
 
Always thought the World Cup should be a reward for nations that have already invested heavily in footballing infrastructure as opposed to giving to countries who haven't invested a penny before being awarded the World Cup and won't spend a penny on it after the World Cup they've been awarded is over.
 
vangagal said:
Yes USA have all the facilities to host a WC. But i doubt they have the people behind it to make it a good host nation.
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Well I'd disagree with that. There's no need to slander a whole country of 280M (or whatever) just because of a few million in the Trump mould. They've proven they make good hosts, and most people are very friendly and welcoming, and it has massive experience of running major sporting events, but choosing a host nation doesn't always come down to that alone. But I'd love to see a WC in Morocco, a small but lovely country.
 
The Mitcher said:
Jeb?

Keep the politics out of football please, no way in hell it should go to Morroco especially as America already has the facilities and is a rising footballing nation.
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One may want to debate that 'rising' bit since they failed to even make this year's failing against countries with tiny populations ! And of course there is no way to keep politics out of any sport, it's endemic.
 
Oscie said:
Always thought the World Cup should be a reward for nations that have already invested heavily in footballing infrastructure as opposed to giving to countries who haven't invested a penny before being awarded the World Cup and won't spend a penny on it after the World Cup they've been awarded is over.
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In other words then you only want to give it to the wealthiest countries instead of spreading that wealth around and helping others develop.
 
USA last had it in 94 and they arent even a football mad nation. There are any number of countries that should be in front of them in the queue. England the home of football and the most watched and supported league in the world hasnt had one since 66.
 
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reddevil702 said:
The US had the most fans at the last world cup above all other countries so attendance or interest wouldn't be a problem. Infrastructure is already in place and as for the political issues, Trump will have been in office 8 years and done after 2024. People mention the travel ban but how many fans will really be traveling from Syria, Yemen, Libya, or Somalia? The US makes too much sense so FIFA will of course award it to a country that is in no way ready to host.
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I think you might be missing the actual reason why the travel ban is a negative.
 
Adisa said:
Don't get why it can't be Morocco.
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Also, this. I’d have to see the respective bids before I wrote off any host. I haven’t the first clue about the infrastructure Morocco has in place and I doubt many others do that have written them off in here either.
 
Rafateria said:
great tourist infrastructure (and destination)
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It's a great destination and place in general, but the infrastructure is poor, there's gonna have to be a hell of a lot of work done before 2026. Just look at the country's biggest airport Casablanca to see, it's very much a third world standard facility unfortunately.

Also Morocco away from the coasts can get extremely hot in summer, on another level of heat to Southern Europe.
 
Go, Morocco. Great footballing country, not a travel ban in sight.
 
Doesn't help with Trumps views on Mexico and what he said recently about African nations
 
2cents said:
It's a great destination and place in general, but the infrastructure is poor, there's gonna have to be a hell of a lot of work done before 2026. Just look at the country's biggest airport Casablanca to see, it's very much a third world standard facility unfortunately.

Also Morocco away from the coasts can get extremely hot in summer, on another level of heat to Southern Europe.
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I was there last year (not Casablanca but Marrakech, Fez, Chefchaouen and Tangier. The airports are small for sure but actually those I was at - Marrakech, Tangier and Fez - were modern and not 3rd world, they would need upgrading for capacity certainly but the trains are very regular and OK too and the distances between cities relatively small. You can even drive between cities (I did) and car hire is extremely cheap.
 
Ish said:
This.

Also, gives me a reason to go visit Marrakech, as I've heard that it's quite pricey.
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Not true. You can get some really cheap return flights from most places in Europe and Marrakech, Casablanca, Fez and Tangier are served by some low cost airlines - just book a couple of months in advance. Once there you can go low on hotels / dorms if you wish, or hire a whole villa and compound ! It most certainly doesn't have to be expensive and car hire is very cheap with petrol reasonable too.
 
Rafateria said:
I was there last year (not Casablanca but Marrakech, Fez, Chefchaouen and Tangier. The airports are small for sure but actually those I was at - Marrakech, Tangier and Fez - were modern and not 3rd world, they would need upgrading for capacity certainly but the trains are very regular and OK too and the distances between cities relatively small. You can even drive between cities (I did) and car hire is extremely cheap.
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They're currently completing the high-speed Tangier to Rabat rail link and I'd expect it to be extended to Marrakech by 2026. That'll be a big help, although the current rail service is ok. Airports definitely need to be expanded and the major highways improved. All doable. Big question is the stadiums obviously. I lived in Morocco for six months and every local I asked warned me against going to a match, either out of genuine fear for my safety or (far more likely) out of embarrassment at the state of the facilities.

How many stadiums/locations are typically needed for a World Cup?
 
2cents said:
Also Morocco away from the coasts can get extremely hot in summer, on another level of heat to Southern Europe.
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Absolutely not true. Check out the link for June temps ; Casablanca (20-25C), Rabat (17-22C), Tangier (17-27C), Marrakech (17-27C), Meknes (which is inland) (16-31C) etc. in fact in terms of the best country to visit in June in Africa, Morocco is it.

http://www.thebesttimetovisit.com/weather/afficherville.php

I think many people (not you) tend to regard Africa as this super hot continent, whereas it's really not (I lived in West Africa for 5 years). It can be very humid but not generally super hot, the Middle East is on another level though.

I live in Shanghai now and even China can be really hot in Summer (up to 44C here last year, a record I think, certainly the hottest in the 20 years I've lived here). June thru (all of) September is very hot.
 
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2cents said:
They're currently completing the high-speed Tangier to Rabat rail link and I'd expect it to be extended to Marrakech by 2026. That'll be a big help, although the current rail service is ok. Airports definitely need to be expanded and the major highways improved. All doable. Big question is the stadiums obviously. I lived in Morocco for six months and every local I asked warned me against going to a match, either out of genuine fear for my safety or (far more likely) out of embarrassment at the state of the facilities.

How many stadiums/locations are typically needed for a World Cup?
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Haha I'm not even sure how may clubs they have or how good their stadiums are but if Abu Dhabi can start from scratch then I'm sure Morocco could upgrade theirs. I'm not sure how many they need, 8-10 perhaps ? It depends on the new number of competing teams after the EC is expanded.
 
Rafateria said:
Absolutely not true. Check out the link for June temps ; Casablanca (20-25C), Rabat (17-22C), Tangier (17-27C), Marrakech (17-27C), Meknes (which is inland) (16-31C) etc. in fact in terms of the best country to visit in June in Africa, Morocco is it.

http://www.thebesttimetovisit.com/weather/afficherville.php
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I said it 'can' get extremely hot inland, which is absolutely true - I've experienced 45+ degree heat in Ourzazate in July before. However, that's on the other side (the Sahara side) of the Atlas from Marrakech, which is why I'm wondering where exactly the matches will be played. If they stick to the coast and a few nearby interior cities like Marrakech and Meknes it should be ok with evening kick-offs.
 
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