Fresh 2030 World Cup proposal puts Spain and Morocco at the centre of final debate

The 2030 World Cup final could be played in Spain while Morocco is given the opening match, under a compromise proposal reported by Spanish newspaper Marca.

The suggestion comes as Spain and Morocco continue competing for a leading role in the tournament, with negotiations over the schedule and venues taking place behind the scenes.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation is working to ensure the final remains in Spain. It is relying on the country’s sporting and logistical standing, as well as its central role in the 2030 hosting project alongside Portugal.

The final venue has not yet been officially confirmed. Madrid and Barcelona remain the leading options to stage the tournament’s most important match.

Rafael Louzan, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, said Spain should be regarded as the natural host for the final.

“The final must be played in Spain, there is no other option,” he said. “We are a superpower and a global leader in everything, but the greatest joy would be to play the final in Spain.”

His comments underline Spain’s belief that there is little justification for the final to be held elsewhere.

Morocco, however, is continuing to push for a larger share of the tournament. Fouzi Lekjaa is leading efforts to strengthen the country’s position within the hosting project, with Casablanca emerging as one of the main focal points.

Morocco is building a major stadium with a capacity of about 115,000 spectators. The project reflects the country’s ambition to stage one of the World Cup’s biggest matches and potentially the final itself.

The reported compromise would allow Morocco to play a prominent part in the opening of the competition, while Spain would retain the final. It could offer a way forward in the dispute, although it also raises questions about how the three South American countries involved in the project would feature.

Those countries joined the hosting plan as part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup.

The 2030 tournament is being shaped by a joint bid involving Spain, Portugal and Morocco, alongside the participation of the three South American nations. However, responsibility for the opening fixture and final remains a key point in the discussions.

Spain is seeking to settle the final in its favour, while Morocco continues to press for the greatest possible benefits from the tournament.

With FIFA elections approaching and some calculations within UEFA becoming more complicated, the destination of the 2030 World Cup final remains unresolved. Several possibilities are still being considered before a final decision is made.