Morocco’s 2030 World Cup final bid linked to reported Infantino proposal

Morocco has reportedly been offered the 2030 World Cup final by FIFA president Gianni Infantino in return for backing his bid to remain in office at the organisation’s 2027 election.

The claim was reported by The Times on Wednesday, which said Infantino had proposed a secret agreement with Morocco over the showpiece match. The 2030 tournament is due to be hosted jointly by Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

According to the British newspaper, the FIFA president promised to support Morocco’s ambition to stage the final if the north African country supported his attempt to continue as FIFA president in 2027.

The reported proposal comes at a difficult time for the 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator. Infantino has become increasingly unpopular following the disclosure of a project involving the privatisation of World Cup shares. That plan was recently abandoned after strong opposition from UEFA and other football authorities, as well as pressure from several political organisations.

Infantino is also facing calls to resign. The report suggests he may be attempting to use a stay in Morocco to negotiate support, with the next FIFA presidential election now one year away.

Morocco is competing with Spain to host the final. Its preferred venue is the Grand Stade Hassan II, which is currently being built in Casablanca. Spain’s rival proposal centres on the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

However, if the reported arrangement is confirmed, the connection could ultimately damage Morocco’s prospects rather than strengthen them. The country’s association with Infantino could be viewed negatively across the football world, including within FIFA’s own administration, where opposition to the president is reportedly developing.

That would create an unwelcome complication for Morocco as it seeks the tournament’s most prestigious match. The country could also face further scrutiny in Portugal, where the environmentalist LIVRE party has called for the nation to be removed from the list of host countries, arguing that Morocco would “not be a reliable partner”.

The allegations come shortly after Spanish media reported that Morocco had secured support from the United States and its president, Donald Trump, in the contest to stage the final.

Morocco’s bid for the match has already become a significant issue in preparations for the 2030 World Cup. The country is seeking to host the final at the Grand Stade Hassan II, while Spain wants the fixture to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The tournament will be staged across Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the final venue still to be decided. The reported involvement of FIFA’s president adds a political dimension to that process, although there has been no confirmation of the alleged agreement.

The Times’ report has therefore raised questions about whether Morocco’s campaign could be affected by its relationship with Infantino, particularly at a time when his position within FIFA is under pressure.

The matter remains unresolved, with further developments expected as the three host nations continue preparations for the 2030 World Cup and the FIFA presidential election approaches.