Spain backs bid to host 2030 World Cup final as Morocco pushes Casablanca venue

Spain says it remains confident of staging the 2030 World Cup final, despite Morocco’s efforts to have the match played at the new Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca.

Milagros Tolon, Spain’s Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sport, said the country “deserves” to host the showpiece fixture and had been committed to doing so from the beginning.

Speaking on Cadena SER’s Hora 25 programme, Tolon said: “We deserve it, and we have always been committed to Spain hosting it.”

The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with the three countries competing to stage the final. The decision on the venue will be made by FIFA.

Explaining why she believed Spain should be selected, Tolon said: “First, we are world champions in the men’s and women’s game. Second, Spain, together with Portugal, promoted the bid to host the 2030 World Cup, and Morocco joined later. In addition, we have many advantages and strengths as a country.”

Her comments come amid reports of a possible proposal involving FIFA president Gianni Infantino, with some claims suggesting Spain could be offered the final in return for supporting him. Tolon said those reports had caused surprise but had already been rejected by FIFA.

“We were extremely surprised, and more importantly, FIFA has already denied it,” she said. “We are working with FIFA, and our next meeting will be in September. They have been very clear and decisive in denying this report. We will continue working because we want, and it should be, for the World Cup final to be held in Spain.”

Asked whether the Spanish government regretted agreeing to co-host the tournament with Morocco, Tolon declined to give a direct opinion.

“I will not comment on that because these are decisions made by FIFA,” she said. “There are many advantages to this, as we have seen in this World Cup. FIFA approved it, and that is how it will happen. We are working to make it the best World Cup in the history of our country.”

Tolon also highlighted Spain’s experience in organising major sporting events, as well as its transport and security infrastructure.

“We have a great deal of experience with sporting events, but in addition to that, Spain has a modern communications network and the security that we enjoy in this country,” she said. “With all these advantages, I am convinced that FIFA will choose Spain to host the final.”

The government has not indicated whether it favours Madrid or Barcelona as the Spanish host city for the final. Tolon said the priority was to ensure the match was held in Spain, while acknowledging that the final decision belonged to FIFA.

“As a government, we want the final to be held in Spain,” she said. “FIFA will decide that, but we want it to take place in our country because we deserve it, and we have always been committed to hosting it in Spain.”

Tolon added that the government had a “perfectly defined” roadmap and that a “coordination meeting” with FIFA was scheduled for September.

She said 15 government ministries were involved in the preparations, supported by 10 working groups and more than 100 people. Their aim is to present FIFA with “convincing arguments” in favour of staging the 2030 World Cup final in Spain.