They highlighted the role of football as a factor of friendship between the three organising countries

Moroccan supporters' clubs of Spanish clubs welcome the joint organisation of the World Cup 2030

PHOTO/FILE - La FIFA concede a la candidatura española, junto con Portugal y Marruecos, la organización del torneo — PHOTO/FILE - FIFA awards the Spanish bid, together with Portugal and Morocco, to host the tournament

05/10/23

Moroccan supporters clubs of Spanish clubs, especially those of Real Madrid and Barca, welcomed FIFA's decision on Wednesday to award the organisation of the 2030 World Cup to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and highlighted the role of football as a factor of friendship between the peoples of the three countries.

"It is very good news for Morocco, Spain and Portugal, the three countries are linked by history and are linked now, thanks to this World Cup, for the future. 2030 would be a before and after," Laarbi Bargach, president of the Madrid supporters' club in Casablanca, told EFE.

Bargach expressed his conviction that there will be a lot of investment in the three countries and that they will promote the region's economy, which could solve many current problems, such as illegal immigration and illicit trafficking.

AFP/GLYN KIRK - Selección de Marruecos en el Mundial de Qatar — **AFP/GLYN KIRK -** Morocco team at the World Cup in Qatar

The FIFA Council unanimously agreed on Wednesday that the only bid to host the event should be the joint bid of Spain, Portugal and Morocco; that Montevideo should host the opening match, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930, and that both Argentina and Paraguay should host a match.

For his part, Javier Díaz, honorary president of the Madrid supporters' club in Casablanca, described the news as "fantastic" and stated that this World Cup will serve to develop the image of the host countries and their economic development.

Also satisfied were the members of the Gent Blaugrana de Anfa (Casablanca), Barcelona fans, who highlighted the honour of being chosen alongside Spain and Portugal to host the most important football event in the world.

AFP/OSCAR DEL POZO - El centrocampista inglés del Real Madrid Jude Bellingham celebra marcar el gol inicial durante el partido entre el Real Madrid y el Unión Berlín en el estadio Santiago Bernabéu de Madrid — **AFP/OSCAR DEL POZO -** Real Madrid's English midfielder Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring the opening goal during the match between Real Madrid and Union Berlin at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid

"It's another opportunity to celebrate our fans and our proximity to Barça, and it's a great opportunity for us to welcome supporters' clubs from all over the world to Morocco and celebrate our love of football," Youssef Benani, president of the supporters' club, told EFE.

Moroccan supporters clubs of Spanish clubs have thousands of fans in the Maghreb country, where Spanish football is very popular.

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