The Spanish newspaper “Marca” has unveiled the latest developments regarding the allocation of stadiums between Madrid, Rabat, and Lisbon to host the “World Cup 2030”.
The report suggests that Morocco’s share was limited to six stadiums, while Portugal settled for three, leaving Spain with an impressive eleven stadiums.
According to the same source, citing FIFA insiders, the selected Moroccan stadiums for hosting the World Cup would be in the cities of Rabat, Tangier, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, and Fes.
“Marca” points out that the negotiation regarding the number and distribution of stadiums among the three countries was based on “quality” rather than quantity, explaining Spain’s substantial share.
“Hespress” contacted a source from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, who stated that they “cannot express an opinion on what the press says about the division of stadiums” and clarified that “the official announcement will be made by the three countries.”
This distribution has raised concerns among sports observers, who consider it “unfair and may harm Morocco’s chances of obtaining sufficient returns from these matches.”
Among the concerned voices is Aziz Belbouali, a sports expert, who stated that “this division is entirely unfair and lacks logic, as Spain will have the largest number of matches, while Morocco and Portugal have modest shares.”
Belbouali emphasized that “we cannot believe what the Spanish press is saying unless an official statement is issued by the Royal Federation.
The number of these stadiums may increase based on negotiations, where Morocco seeks to ensure its interests.”
Hicham Ramram, another sports expert, noted the “great logic” in what the Spanish newspaper mentioned earlier.
He said, “Logically, the Spaniards are well-prepared, and having six stadiums for Morocco is positive and allows us to host many matches.”
Ramram added, “FIFA is not the one dividing the matches; it’s the three countries that formed a joint committee.
Portugal has previously stated its inability to host matches exceeding the capacity of three stadiums.”
The spokesperson affirmed that what “Marca” revealed “completely aligns with the current context of negotiations and statements from the three parties,” emphasizing that “Morocco wants to assert itself and aspires to host the final match.”
Ramram clarified that this division “is unlikely to be official without Moroccan consent and guarantees that the Kingdom previously set before entering into the joint file.”
Regarding the potential impact of Rabat’s perceived lower returns compared to Spain, the sports expert insisted, “Six stadiums are not easy, and Morocco is proceeding according to its capabilities.
These six stadiums will be ready for the upcoming African Cup, and afterward, they will be delighted to host World Cup matches.”
