It has been long in the making and cost hundreds of millions in investment, but Morocco have turned their previous pariah status on the African continent into a powerful position of control, topped by finally earning the right to host the World Cup after decades of trying. They are also to stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, winning hands down in battle with neighbours Algeria and scoring a public relations coup in the process.
The timing of FIFA’s decision to award the hosting of the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Portugal and Spain caught everyone off guard, but will prove part of a wider Machiavellian compromise that allows some early games to be played in South America – on the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup in Uruguay – and sets up the chance for FIFA to steer the 2034 finals to Saudi Arabia and get
