Tensions over hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup final have surfaced after Morocco's prime minister publicly rebuked the head of the country's football federation for prematurely claiming the showpiece match would be staged in Casablanca.
The 2030 tournament will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the opening three fixtures set to take place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as part of celebrations marking a century since the first World Cup was held. While a provisional list of stadiums has been drawn up, FIFA has yet to confirm the full roster of venues or determine which country will host the final.
Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF), sparked the controversy after telling attendees at a political party gathering in Casablanca that the city would have the honor of hosting the final. FIFA responded by stating only that a decision on the matter would be made in due course, offering no further detail.
Morocco's prime minister, Aziz Akhannouch, moved quickly to distance the government from Lekjaa's remarks, delivering a pointed warning during a rally. "Do not offer to host the big final game in Morocco while we still have not discussed the matter with our allies, Spain and Portugal," he said, addressing Lekjaa directly. He continued, "There should be some respect, brothers. Stop using electoral promises to pull the rug out from under us. These are huge matters. Deciding where the final will be held is a major issue."
The rebuke comes as Spain continues to push its own case for hosting the final. Rafael Louzan, president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), has argued that Spain's credentials have only grown stronger following the national team's World Cup triumph this summer. Speaking to Cadena SER radio, Louzan made clear his belief that Spain deserves the honor. "Even though no decision has been taken, I believe Spain is the place because it cannot be any other way," he said. "As you know, we are currently world champions. I believe Spain's organisational capacity for major events is beyond question and that is why reality dictates that the grand final cannot and must not be held anywhere other than in Spain."
The dispute highlights the delicate diplomatic balancing act required among the three co-host nations as they prepare for the tournament. Unlike previous editions, where host selection processes have sometimes been finalized years in advance, the identity of the 2030 final's venue remains an open question, and Akhannouch's intervention suggests Morocco is keen to avoid unilateral declarations that could complicate negotiations with its partners.
Infrastructure investment is already underway across all three countries as they prepare to welcome fans and teams from around the world. Morocco is in the process of building a stadium with a capacity of 115,000, which would become the largest football venue on the planet upon completion. Spain, meanwhile, boasts newly renovated facilities of its own, including Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, now holding 83,000 spectators following its redevelopment, and Barcelona's Spotify Camp Nou, which is expected to reach a capacity of 105,000 once ongoing renovation work concludes.
With stadium capacities rising and national pride at stake, the competition to host football's biggest match appears set to remain a point of contention until FIFA makes its final determination. For now, officials in Morocco appear to be adopting a more cautious, coordinated approach following the prime minister's public intervention.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.