Morocco have joined Spain and Portugal in a bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

After making five unsuccessful bids to host the World Cup in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, and 2026, Morocco announced in July 2018 that it would submit a bid for the 2030 edition. It would be the first nation to host World Cup games in North Africa if it were successful in 2030.

The Atlas Lions finished in fourth place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament held in Qatar, losing the third-place playoff game to Croatia.

Ukraine seemed to have been replaced by Morocco after their initial plan to host the competition.

The governing body of European football, UEFA, supported the Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine bid, which was made public in October, more than seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, president of Ukraine, approved the action, and the Portuguese Football Association claimed at the time the bid “aims to contribute through the power of football to the recovery of a country undergoing reconstruction”.

Yet, the conflict against Russia is still going on, and this week saw a fresh wave of missile attacks that wreaked havoc all over the nation.

It seems more unlikely that Ukraine will recover in time to host World Cup group-stage games in seven years.

Also, there is uncertainty at the top of the Ukrainian FA with the arrest of president Andriy Pavelko in November on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.

The proposal will be up against stiff opposition, particularly as Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay have prepared a combined offer of their own, seizing on the edition commemorating the tournament's 100th anniversary.