Belgium backs Morocco's bid to host 2026 World Cup

The Royal Belgian Football Association vowed its support to Morocco's bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Moroccans Royal Football Federation (FRMF) said in a statement Tuesday.

The support was pledged during a meeting between the FRMF president Fouzi Lekjaa and his Belgian counterpart Gerard Linard in Brussels, the statement noted.

Linard praised also the great work done by the north African kingdom in terms of development and infrastructure to host this global event, adding that the Belgian federation will promote the Moroccan bid.

Lekjaa hailed the Belgian support to Morocco's bid and highlighted the strong links between the two countries in several areas, including sports.

Lekjaa is on a European tour to promote Morocco's bid. During his tour, France, Serbia and Luxembourg have pledged their support to the Moroccan bid.

Morocco enjoys strong support from African nations and hopes to earn wider support from other countries around the globe.

Morocco is competing with a joint bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada.

This is Morocco's fifth bid to host the World Cup, after their losses for the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 editions of the event.

FIFA will make the decision at FIFA Congress in June on the eve of the opening match of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.