Advertisement

Is East Africa mind ready for a joint bid to host the WorldCup 2030?

Tuesday June 26 2018
Roger

Roger Munyampenda

Each World Cup has its magic moments and goals that spread the football fever. Keeping passionate fans very busy for about a month every 4 years and instilling very strong feelings.

Temporary escape to forget stressing or fake news about trade wars, climate change unemployment, powers confrontation and the robots taking over the world! This edition started on June 14th in Russia is no exception, picking up steadily.

Meanwhile it has relegated to history the selection of host countries for the 2026 edition, a joint bid from Canada-Mexico-USA federations.

Selected officially on technical merits and beating Morocco on its 4th attempt. Although Morocco enjoyed surprisingly the backing from Algeria and France FAs , the campaign against by Saudi Arabia was really a big blow and very damaging.

And without surprise with the FIFA Executives said leaning toward the competing bid featuring much more bigger financial return - 11B$ versus 5B$ - and the readiness of the sports facilities with existent stadiums.

Influenced by politics

Advertisement

But the choice or vote was been also influenced by politics despite the supposedly independence of the football bodies.

US President Trump had openly threatened to cut aid to countries that would vote inconsistently; obviously some federations got arm-twisted by their governments!

Now what next after 2026? Is Africa bound to keep the same linear thinking? The Morocco FA has already hinted to continue, directed by the King Mohammed VI, rather ready to submit another bid for the 2030 edition. Positive stubbornness!

Yet in the football circles, many anticipate another big competition from China bid probably along with another joint offer from Argentina-Chile-Paraguay Uruguay.

The Chinese have been preparing this one methodically, buying high profile players (and coaches), building up 30.000 football schools and aligning big sponsorships at the current tournament at the level of Official Partner (Wanda) or Sponsor (Hisense)

Same results

China has the numbers and infrastructures, money and technologies, the political will from the top with President Xi Ji fully engaged, now dreaming and fantasizing to win their first World Cup ever.

After all they have achieved or surpassed everything the Western have done so far! Without prejudging on the dynamics when FIFA (2022?) will decide on a successful host, it is obvious that same strategies will lead to the same results.

Morocco alone stand very limited chance against China unless the principle of continental rotation is brought back before. A joint bid with Algeria, Libya and or Tunis to increase their chance and but they need to forget their national ego.

Still, Morocco will never attract full votes from Africa, after they withdrew from hosting the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2015 edition, 2 months to the tournament throwing it into jeopardy; claiming to prevent Ebola spread but hosted few months later Club World Cup.

Worse off , Morocco refused to sign back in 1963 a pledge to support the decolonization of Angola, Mozambique and SA and still carry the liability of the disputed Western Sahara seen as the last colonialist, absolutely intolerable for SADC.

Joint bid

May it is the right time for East Africa to fill a joint bid, say with 4-5 countries. The region is passionate for football and has never got the chance to play at that high.

At conceptual level, the benefits would be tremendous, unbounded, with transformative impact on economic growth, jobs and wealth creation, and social and political integration.

Plus the uplifting of the regional football to a much higher competitiveness and the chance of automatic qualification at least for the host of the opening game!

The decisive advantages of the region with no political or historical liability known are numerous shall be evidenced later on record: fabulous and unique touristic parks, good time zone for broadcasters and geographical location for visitors and viewers, etc.

Making the case for a favourable voting at least from Africa, Asia, Europe and Middle East.

And new infrastructures could attract big business from everywhere from Europe to America, Israel to Turkey, Australia to Brazil, India to China; the latter two being already engaged in related projects in Airports, Energy Railway that would be even better justified.

Yet it would remain critical to convince FIFA Executive Council more attracted by the big business and proven financial return of such alternative.

A very doable homework provided the region understands the strategic imperatives for security and long term stability and behave accordingly now onward and consistently.

Equally important would be to convince each individual host city, that there would be an economic and socially positive impact of their inhabitants in a win-win sharing scheme.

Bumpy road

After Chicago, Vancouver and Minneapolis declined the hosting of games in 2026 in their own countries, feeling bullied in the process by FIFA, in unbalanced scheme.

The alternative will definitely unleash the dormant potential, lead toward higher regional competitiveness, create new opportunities and stronger business consortiums.

Off course this is not a risk free venture. The road is expected to be bumpy at the best, the bill very heavy drawing huge investments and imposing wider popular participation and broader support set as the requirements of any credible bid for FIFA consideration.

It compels also for a fresh thinking over the regional football, with consistent strategic plans from each FA and a restructured body CECAFA along with effective youth academies.

This region perceived as static in terms of football needs to step up their game and venture into the global sports businesses too.

Thinking big, acting bold and focused will pay off. Rwanda under President Kagame have ventured to sponsor Arsenal Club and Dangote plans to own part of it.

After all, 15% of the England GDP is generated by that industry alone and seen their soft power increased dramatically with the premier league EPL!

This may be the missing spark or driver for the regional football development and surely among the strategic paths toward the promised land of middle income status.