Algeria Greenlights its Soccer Legend to Be Morocco’s 2026 Bid Ambassador

Algeria has officially endorsed Morocco’s bid for 2026 world soccer cup as former soccer legend and star Lakhdar Belloumi joins the Moroccan organizing committee as one of its ambassadors.

The Algerian presidency has responded to Morocco’s request to have Belloumi joining its pool of ambassadors, local media reports.

The 59-year old man known by many as Algeria’s best soccer player of all times caught the world attention at the 1982 World Cup by scoring Algeria’s winning goal over Germany at debut of the competition.

Algeria’s support for Morocco has been awaited given rivalries between the two countries, especially over the Western Sahara issue, as Algiers backs the separatist Polisario front, claiming the independence of the territory.

Besides the support of the members of the African football federation, and most of the Arab and Muslim world’s football associations, Morocco also received the endorsement of France, Russia, Serbia, Luxembourg and Belgium.

The best bidder for the competition will be announced in June in Moscow. The North African country is facing tough challenge from the other three-nation bidder (United State, Mexico and Canada).

Belloumi will join Ivoirian and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, former Barcelona FC and Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o who have been also chosen by the North African country as ambassadors.