Morocco’s successful staging of the Africa Cup of Nations has bolstered its bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain, said the Independent daily.
The smooth running of the 24-team tournament, underpinned by impressive stadiums, efficient transport, and robust tourism infrastructure, confirms the North African nation’s capacity for hosting the global spectacle in four years’ time, underlined the British newspaper.
The Kingdom plans to utilise six venues for the 2030 World Cup, five of which were used during the Cup of Nations, including the Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat with a capacity of 69,500. Other stadiums in Agadir, Fes, and Marrakech also proved more than.
The proposed 115,000-capacity Stade Hassan II on the outskirts of Casablanca is a centrepiece of Morocco’s ambitious plans, with hopes it will host the World Cup final over Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, said the Independent.
Morocco is committing $1.4 billion to its six stadiums, alongside extensive airport investment, with ten Moroccan cities already offering direct air links to Europe.
Further infrastructure development includes an extension of Africa’s only high-speed rail service, which already connects Tangier to Casablanca, southwards to Agadir and Marrakech.
With these monumental projects which aim to modernise cities and stimulate economic growth, Morocco has distinguished itself among non-oil Arab economies by channelling billions into roads, rail, ports, renewable energy, and manufacturing.
According to the Independent daily, Morocco pins high hopes of becoming the first African and Arab nation to win the World Cup.
