Mustapha Hadji insists 2030 World Cup final should be played in Morocco

Moroccan football legend Mustapha Hadji has called for the 2030 FIFA World Cup final to be staged in Morocco, saying it is time for Africa to host the showpiece again.

Hadji believes Morocco has the facilities and capabilities to stage the final, as the country competes with Spain to host the decisive match of the tournament.

Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal, while Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will each stage one match to mark the centenary of the competition.

Morocco and Spain battle for final

The contest to host the final has intensified, with Spanish media campaigning for the match to be played at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Morocco, meanwhile, is pushing for the final to take place at the Hassan II Grand Stadium, which is under construction in Benslimane province, near Casablanca.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has also expressed his preference for the Spanish venue, saying: “The World Cup final must be held at a legendary stadium like the Santiago Bernabeu”.

Hadji, however, believes Morocco deserves the opportunity, pointing to the number of times European and North American countries have hosted the tournament.

Speaking in a video interview with Kooora, which is due to be published later, the former Morocco international said: “Of course I want to hold the final in Morocco, in Casablanca or Rabat, especially since we have the capabilities that qualify us for that”.

“I would like to see the World Cup final held in Africa again after the first time it was in South Africa in 2010. I think it is time to raise the African flag,” he added.

Hadji raises concerns over racism

The former Moroccan star also criticised what he sees as racism in Spanish football, linking the issue to the debate over where the 2030 World Cup final should be played.

Asked about Spanish media demands to keep the final in Spain amid controversy surrounding racism in the country’s stadiums, Hadji said: “Yes, frankly, I see that there is racism, and they also practice racism when they demand that the match be kept away from Africa despite it being held more than once in Europe and the United States”.

His comments add to the debate over the allocation of the tournament’s most prestigious fixture, with Morocco seeking to bring the final to African soil for the first time since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Confidence in Morocco’s World Cup ambitions

Hadji also expressed confidence in Morocco’s ability to deliver a tournament capable of matching or surpassing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which is widely regarded by some as one of the best editions in the competition’s history.

He pointed to the long-term efforts of Moroccan football officials to improve the game and strengthen the country’s standing in international football.

“Yes, Moroccan football officials have been working since 2012 in more than one place to develop the game, and today we have all the qualifications, to the point that dual nationals active in European leagues are asking to play for Morocco”

Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 tournament form part of its broader ambition to establish itself as a major force in world football, with the country seeking to translate its development efforts into the successful organisation of the global event.