Fouzi Lekjaa says Morocco will host 2030 World Cup final despite FIFA silence

Fouzi Lekjaa has said Morocco will stage the 2030 World Cup final at the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, despite FIFA yet to confirm which stadium will host the tournament’s showpiece match.

The president of the Moroccan Football Federation made the claim at an event organised by the Authenticity and Modernity Party in Bouznika, speaking with confidence about Morocco’s bid to secure the final.

“What you should know is that Benslimane province will have the honour of hosting the 2030 World Cup final,” Lekjaa said, according to Spanish newspaper Sport.

He also imagined Morocco facing France in the final, saying: “God willing, there will be a final between Morocco and France so that we can take revenge.”

His comments were met with applause from those attending the event.

The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while celebratory matches marking the centenary of the first World Cup will take place in South America. However, FIFA has not yet officially named the venue for the final.

Lekjaa’s statement places the Grand Stade Hassan II at the centre of a contest with Spain, which has several leading candidates of its own. The Santiago Bernabeu and Spotify Camp Nou are among the Spanish stadiums being considered for the match.

Morocco’s hopes are closely linked to the new stadium being built in Benslimane, between Casablanca and Rabat. The venue is expected to have a capacity of almost 115,000, which would make it one of the largest football stadiums in the world.

Its design is inspired by the traditional tents used during Moroccan festivals and gatherings, giving the project a distinctive architectural identity.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2027, three years before the World Cup. That timetable would give Morocco sufficient time to test the stadium and prepare it for the global tournament.

The project is regarded in Morocco as more than a sporting venue. The Grand Stade Hassan II is seen as a major symbol of the country’s urban and sporting transformation, as well as one of the most important elements of the joint Moroccan, Spanish and Portuguese World Cup bid.

Despite the certainty expressed by Lekjaa, the official position remains unchanged: FIFA has not announced where the 2030 final will be played.

His comments therefore do not represent a formal decision awarding the match to Morocco. Instead, they underline the country’s confidence in winning the contest and amount to a clear statement of intent as it competes with Spain.

The battle over the final has intensified in recent months, with Morocco insisting it should host the tournament’s most important match and Spain seeking to stage it at one of its major stadiums and crown the 2030 world champions on home soil.