A dispute over the venue for the 2030 World Cup final has intensified after a senior Moroccan football official publicly declared that his country will be awarded football's most prestigious match, a claim FIFA has not confirmed.
Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, stated at a political event in Bouznika that the honour of hosting the final would fall to Benslimane, a province located roughly 60 kilometres from Casablanca. According to Spanish news agency EFE, which first reported the comments on Thursday, Lekjaa spoke with confidence about Morocco's chances despite FIFA having made no official announcement.
Benslimane is the site of the Hassan II Stadium, a $1 billion project currently under construction that is expected to hold 115,000 spectators upon completion, which would make it the largest football-specific venue in the world. The stadium forms a central part of Morocco's push to be seen as the ideal setting for the tournament's climactic match.
The 2030 World Cup will be historic in its structure, spanning six countries across three continents. While three opening matches are scheduled to be played in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to mark the tournament's centenary, the bulk of the competition will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain. FIFA has yet to finalize all host cities, and the battle over which nation will stage the final has become increasingly contentious.
Spain's football hierarchy has pushed back firmly against Moroccan claims. Rafael Louzan, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, told local media earlier this month that "Spain should host the final." His comments were echoed by Spain's sports minister, Milagros Tolón, who argued that her country has a stronger case based on football pedigree and its role in initiating the joint bid.
"We are the reigning men's and women's World Cup champions, and Spain and Portugal spearheaded the bid for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco later joined. We have many advantages and strengths as a country," Tolón said in comments to Cadena Ser last month.
FIFA has moved to distance itself from suggestions that a decision has already been made behind the scenes. In August, the governing body rejected reports claiming that its president, Gianni Infantino, had privately assured Morocco of hosting rights for the final. A FIFA spokesperson described such reports as "false and misleading," adding that no promise had been made regarding the location of the 2030 final.
When approached again following Lekjaa's latest remarks, FIFA maintained its position that no formal decision has been reached, with a spokesperson reiterating that "a decision will be made by FIFA in due course."
The competing statements from Moroccan and Spanish officials highlight the growing rivalry between the two nations as they jockey for prestige ahead of the expanded tournament. With three countries sharing hosting duties and stadiums still being built or upgraded across the region, FIFA faces a delicate balancing act in choosing a final venue that avoids the appearance of favouritism.
For now, the destination of the 2030 World Cup final remains officially undecided, even as national federations continue to make public cases for their own countries. Both Morocco and Spain appear determined to shape public perception ahead of any formal ruling from football's governing body.
Based on reporting from Independent Football (via EFE).