CAF Clarify Motsepe Comments On Backing African World Cup Bid

CAF’s Head of TV and Communication Luxolo September has clarified the position of the Confederation of African Football as well as it’s president Patrice Motsepe regarding the backing of the 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup bid, while there has been no official resolution on South Africa’s bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Motsepe confirmed during the recent CAF African Schools Football Championship that the Executive Committee have thrown their hat behind the joint-World Cup bid of Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

He explained that Africa must unite as one and was also asked about whether the Executive would support the South African bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. His response was initially misinterpreted by iDiski Times, but September has now clarified the stance of Motsepe and CAF as a whole for both tournaments.

“The CAF president has underscored the importance of a united Africa in relation to how we approach the bid for the 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup, or the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, or any other event globally,” he told this publication.

“It’s important that Africa must have one position and be united behind that position. The Executive Committee of CAF met and discussed the support of the Men’s World Cup 2030 and unanimously backed Morocco.

“But for the Women’s World Cup, there has been no discussion at ExCo level about the tournament in 2027 or 2031 for that matter.

“Therefore there is absolutely no official position of CAF or the CAF president in relation to the Women’s World Cup bid.

“However, there is a clear position for the Men’s World Cup in 2030 and the CAF president and the Executive Committee took a decision there.

“It’s important for us to look at things at a macro level – at a macro level Africa must have one voice. At a micro level, there is a clear position on the 2030 Men’s World Cup, but at the moment no resolution on the 2027 Women’s World Cup.”

Morocco’s joint-bid with Spain and Portugal will have to beat a joint-bid from Argentina and Uruguay as well as a bid by England.

Meanwhile, on 23 March, FIFA launched the bidding process for the 2027 FIFA World Cup, with the South African Football Association expressing their interest in hosting the event.

The hosts of the tournament should be announced on 17 May 2024, and interested nations have until 21 April this year to submit their expressions of interest to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. They then need to follow the below timeline in submitting their documents.

– Advertisement –

The FIFA bidding process is as follows:

• FIFA to launch a bidding process on 21 April 2023.    
• 19 May 2023: SAFA to complete and submit bidding agreement 23 May 2023 and FIFA will dispatch bidding and hosting documents.
• August 2023: FIFA convene bid workshop and observers program during Women’s World Cup   Australia/New Zealand.
• 8 December 2023: Submission of Bid Book to FIFA.  
• February 2024: FIFA’s Inspection team visits bidding countries.  
• May 2024: Publication of FIFA’s evaluation report second quarter 2024 ranking of bids. 
• Second quarter 2024: Decision and appointment of the host country for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.