Official: Saudi Arabia will not support Morocco bid for World Cup

Chairman of the General Sport Authority Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee Turki Al-Sheikh stressed that the Kingdom will not support Morocco’s bid to host the World Cup in 2026.

In an interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Al-Sheikh said: “The US had asked us to support its bid first. Morocco came late.”

“America is our ally and sought our help in 2017, and we will not disappoint it, even at the expense of Morocco,” he said.

Al-Sheikh provoked in the past a silent diplomatic crisis between Riyadh and Rabat after posting comments on Twitter and Facebook announcing that the Kingdom will not support Morocco in its bid.

Trump asks Morocco to choose between 2026 World Cup and Sahara

Morocco is seeking to host the World Cup in 2026, in a fierce competition with the US which hopes to win the organisation of the largest tournament in a joint bid with Canada and Mexico.

FIFA is expected to elect the host country on 13 June.