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The Polisario Front supports Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup, according to El Pais. Indeed, after the Kingdom officially submitted its file to the FIFA with the hope of being home to the next continental competition, a source from the separatist movement announced to the Spanish daily newspaper that it backs the Moroccan bid as an «African country».
Speaking to El Pais, the same source explained saying that : «The SADR would support Morocco as an African state, as long as Morocco is respecting our borders. But we will have to take a look at the official map Morocco is going to present».
However, the map is not the only aspect the Front is paying attention to. In its technical file, which consists of 24 sections covering many areas, including vision and strategy, sustainable development and technical information on the country, Morocco made a list of the cities set to host matches. The list includes Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir, Fez and Rabat where there are five staduims, in addition to others in Ouarzazate, Nador, Meknes, Tetouane, Oujda and El Jadida. For the Polisario the above-mentioned cities are not part of the «Western Sahara territory».
Supporting the Moroccan bid
«If Morocco’s technical file included a Western Sahara city, it wouldn’t have the support of all African countries. Moreover, the only possible Sahrawi cities are Dakhla and Laayoune».
This is the first time that the Polisario comments on the Moroccan bid to host the 2026 World Cup. In order to win over the joint North American file, the North African Kingdom will have to get 104 votes.
This is possible as this time, and for the first time, each federation will have the right to vote. All the votes will be made public which will «make bloc votes». To put it in other words, all of Africa will vote for Morocco as they won’t have the privilege of a hidden ballot.
Moreover, Morocco can get the support of other Asian and Middle Eastern countries, especially the ones that publically denounced the American policy, particularly when it comes to the travel ban and the relocation of the American embassy in Israel.
On the 13th of June in Russia, the winning bidder will be announced one day before the start of the 2018 World Cup. For the record, the Polisario is not allowed to vote in such events as it is not recognized by the United Nation as a sovereign state.
