Canada, USA and Mexico are other bid being considered by FIFA
Wednesday 13 June 2018 12:27, UK
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes Morocco should win the bid to host the 2026 World Cup.
Morocco are up against a united proposal of Canada, USA and Mexico and with the vote set to be decided on Wednesday, they are both fighting to stage the biggest World Cup ever with 48 teams playing 80 matches over 34 days.
Ahead of the vote Blatter, who is serving a six-year ban from football for approving a £1.3m payment to Michel Platini in 2011, has had his say on who he thinks would be the best choice.
"Morocco would be the logical host and still is," Blatter, who was president of FIFA for 17 years, said. "This is because at this certain time in FIFA we have taken a decision that we do not accept any longer a double or even a triple bid.
"After the results and experience we saw in 2002 when we had Korea and Japan hosting the World Cup. It was a nightmare."
Moncef Belkhayat, of Morocco's 2026 bid team, feels their offer would mean a more inclusive tournament rather than for "rich people" with the North America bid.
This is the fifth time the African country have bid to host the world's biggest football tournament.
North America received backing from former Manchester United and LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham as he believes the "fans passion for football would make the event very special".
Both Mexico and the United States have already hosted the tournament on their own, the former in 1970 and 1986, with the latter in 1994. Canada has hosted the 2015 Women's World Cup.
After the controversial award of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and Qatar, FIFA has stated the voting will be open and transparent.
The head of every football federation will select the host in a public vote at the 68th FIFA national congress in Moscow.
