Morocco to host Club World Cup

Morocco is set to become the first African country to host the Club World Cup.

FIFA has confirmed that the 2013 and 2014 editions of the tournament will be held in the north African country.

The news comes after South Africa, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all withdrewtheir bids, leaving the north Africans as the sole bidders for the tournament.

It means Morocco will have two chances to prepare for the 2015 African Cup of Nations as well as whiichever of their clubs are defending league champions in 2013 and 2014 will get to participate in the event.

“I think it’s great. It’s not only great for football in Morocco, but for football in Africa,” Moroccan Olympic team coach Pim Verbeek told the BBC.

“The fact that you can have such a prestigious tournament, if you see the interest from the media about a tournament like this.”

“In Morocco, they love football, and they love watching the best European teams playing against the other best teams in the world.”

“They have the African Cup of Nations in 2015, and now they have the best club teams in the world two years in a row.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he was confident that Morocco would successfully host the event.

“We were given a presentation by the Moroccan Federation and I expect the tournament will be excellent in all aspects – logistical, cultural and financial,” he said.