RABAT: Morocco is serious about the idea of bidding to host the 2030 World Cup in tandem with Spain and Morocco.

The possibility was raised by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at a meeting in Rabat with Moroccan opposite number Saadedín Al Othmani, and with King Mohamed VI, who “has been very receptive” to the proposal.

According to Sánchez, if the offer prospers, “it will be the first time that a bid between two continents has been submitted.”

Sanchez, before regurning to Spain, took it for granted that the proposal was accepted by the Moroccan authorities, because he concluded: “We are going to start working on the presentation of the candidacy.”

The first step towards a new Spanish candidacy to host a World Cup was taken by the president of the Spanish RFEF. Luis Rubiales, in discussions with the government on September 13.

Rubiales, accompanied by the FIFA president Gianni Infantino, had sought support to choose to organize the World Cup of 2030 or Euro 2028.

Sánchez told Rubiales that at first the idea seemed interesting and he would study it.

At that time, the RFEF, whose project was still in an embryonic phase, contemplated the possibility of opting for the tournament jointly with Portugal, as Ángel María Villar, a predecessor of Rubiales, had already done when pursuing the 2018 World Cup.

Morocco failed last June in a bid to host the 2026 World Cup which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada .

The last major international soccer tournament held in Spain was the 1982 World Cup, in which the hosts’ team were eliminated in the second group stage. Previously it hosted the finals of the 1964 European Championship which they won against the Soviet Union in Madrid.

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