After earthquake tragedy, Moroccans celebrate winning 2030 World Cup bid

Despite the ongoing tragedy of the earthquake in Morocco, news of winning the 2030 World Cup bid was a breath of fresh air for the North African kingdom.

On Wednesday, 4 October, the international football body FIFA announced that the 2030 football World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, marking the first African-European winning bid. Meanwhile, the first three matches will be held in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to mark the 100th anniversary of the tournament.

Morocco is the second African country to host a World Cup, following the 2010 edition in South Africa. Argentina hosted the 1978 tournament, and Spain hosted the 1982 edition.

Winning the World Cup bid was the final 'infinity stone' Morocco needed to complete its legacy as a host country of major FIFA events. This February, Morocco hosted the Club World Cup, and for the next seven years, Morocco will be hosting two major football competitions: the Africa Cup in 2025 and the World Cup in 2030. 

The news of the winning bid electrified the North African kingdom, with many joyfully taking to the streets with flags and chants to celebrate the long-awaited decision - a flashback of celebrations after Atlas Lions' winning games in the Qatar World Cup, and a glimpse of what the North African Kingdom will turn to in the 2030 World Cup.

"It will be the best World Cup ever. Imagine a finale in Casablanca with all Moroccan ultras coming together to rock the stadium. Goosebumps," Samir, a 54-year-old football fan in Rabat, told The New Arab.

Faouzi Lakjae, Morocco's head of the World Cup Committee, shares the same hope as he has already started lobbying for "a historical finale" in Casablanca, the centre of ultra culture in Morocco, and, arguably, in Africa. 

Home to the renowned clubs of Raja and Wydad, Casablanca has positioned itself as a national hallmark of ultra's ear-splitting energy and shivers-inducing pro-Palestine chants. They made their international debut in the Qatar World Cup last year, willing their team to withstand onslaughts from some of the game's best players.

However, Rabat has to settle the competition with Madrid, which also aims to host the finale.

In the devastated villages, children, sporting their favourite Hakimi and Bonou knock-off gears, were in ecstasy - already fantasising about attending the World Cup in person and "celebrating Moroccan team's winning the World Cup," said Hamza, a nine-year-old kid, in Talat N'Yaakoub camp near the earthquake epicentre.

Some other Moroccans look forward to the job opportunities and new investments that 2030 will bring. "Since the pandemic, opportunities have become scarce. I hope this win will present more opportunities for young Moroccans," Ali, a 21-year-old student, said to TNA.

In 2022, Qatar's economy expanded by 4.8%, thanks in large part to the outsized impact of the World Cup. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha has also pushed tourism and non-oil economic activity to new highs and opened up new opportunities for Qatari businesses.