In its evaluation report for the 2030 World Cup, FIFA distanced itself from Morocco on the sensitive issue of Western Sahara. The organization decided not to include this contested territory within the borders of the Kingdom of Morocco.
FIFA found itself at the center of a complex political issue. Several sensitive points surround the tripartite bid from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal for hosting the 2030 World Cup. When the bid was announced, many Moroccans expressed satisfaction seeing that Western Sahara, which is 80% controlled by Morocco but still regarded by the UN as a “non-self-governing” territory, was included within Morocco’s borders in the initial FIFA-approved proposal. This territory has also been a source of recent tensions with Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front, a group advocating for the independence of Western Sahara.
However, in its evaluation report published last Friday, FIFA made a notable change. The map used in the document differs from the one in the initial bid submission. This time, the global body aligned itself with internationally recognized borders, thus excluding Western Sahara from Moroccan territory. The map presented adjusts Morocco’s boundaries to match those accepted internationally, marking a significant departure from the initial version.
This subtle yet significant repositioning by FIFA raises questions about its role in geopolitical debates and the implications for Morocco’s bid. It also reflects an attempt to avoid fueling political tensions while adhering to the frameworks established by the international community.
Revelations about FIFA’s stance are causing confusion
According to the Spanish newspaper El Independiente, internal sources within the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) claim that FIFA was initially encouraged, during a meeting, to approve the “proposed” map from Morocco, which included Western Sahara. This approval was reportedly secured with the support of the three countries involved in the bid (Spain, Portugal, and Morocco). In the bid, the Spanish government justified the inclusion by stating it was a “football map, not a political one,” minimizing the geopolitical implications.
However, this apparent validation contrasts with recent developments. FIFA’s position remains ambiguous, fueled by these contradictory accounts. According to reports from El Independiente, some within the RFEF insist that “the Moroccan federation covers this territory,” a tacit recognition that FIFA initially seemed to support.
An intriguing detail is the absence of stadiums located in Western Sahara in Morocco’s bid document. Could this omission have led to the modification of the map in FIFA’s final report? This hypothesis seems unlikely, as in other cases, such as Argentina, whose entire territory is shown on the map despite no stadiums being selected in the southern part, no similar changes were observed.
Did FIFA revise its position under pressure or to avoid controversy? This apparent reversal raises questions about the organization’s approach to complex political issues. As the debate continues, clarity regarding the motivations behind this modification is still awaited.
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