Prince Moulay Rachid receives FIFA inspection delegation

Prince Moulay Rachid, president of the National Commission in Charge of Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup, received in Rabat Friday a visiting inspection delegation of the world football governing body, FIFA.

The audience was attended by youth and sports minister, Ahmed Moussaoui, and president of the Moroccan football federation, Husni Benslimane.

The delegation started Thursday a six-day visit to inspect Morocco's sports facilities and assess its ability to host the World Cup.

The inspectors watched Thursday a match between Casablanca's two major clubs, Raja and Wydad. The match, which attracted more than 80,000 spectators, was an opportunity to see how Moroccans are enthusiastic about hosting the planetary competition.

The inspectors will also visit the Moroccan cities and stadia proposed to host the World Cup.

FIFA will select next July the competition's host country from a group of five nations, namely Morocco, South Africa, England, Germany and Brazil.

Morocco, which has already bid twice for the honor to host the football World Cup finals-- in 1994 and 1998-- has devised a 560-million dollar plan to build new and modern stadia, meeting all the requirements of the world football governing body.

To sway backing to its bid, Morocco waged campaigns in Africa and the Arab world, where most nations voiced full and unconditional support for Rabat.

Morocco also rallied several African, Arab and international football and art stars and involved them in promoting its bid.