Fouzi Lekjaa insists Morocco will host 2030 World Cup final

Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), says the 2030 World Cup final will be played at the planned Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, despite FIFA yet to make an official decision.

The final venue remains the subject of an ongoing contest between Morocco and Spain, with Madrid’s Santiago-Bernabeu frequently reported as a leading candidate. But Lekjaa displayed strong confidence during a meeting organised by the Authenticity and Modernity Party in Bouznika.

Responding to reports from Spain, including repeated coverage in Marca, the Moroccan football leader criticised suggestions that the Santiago-Bernabeu was still the clear favourite. He also went further by looking ahead to what he described as the dream final involving Morocco and France.

That was an apparent reference to Morocco’s defeats by Les Bleus at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.

Lekjaa’s statement is not, however, an announcement from FIFA. The governing body has not yet formally selected either the stadium or the host venue for the 2030 final.

Hassan II Stadium strengthens Morocco’s case

Morocco’s confidence is based largely on the Grand Stade Hassan II, which is currently being built in Benslimane, near Casablanca.

The stadium is expected to hold about 115,000 spectators, potentially making it one of the largest football venues in the world. Almost one billion euros is due to be invested in the project, alongside major rail and road improvements.

A new stadium would also allow Morocco to design the venue from the outset around the specific requirements of a World Cup final.

Spain’s proposal is centred on the Santiago-Bernabeu, an historic stadium that has undergone a complete renovation costing about 1.5 billion euros. Madrid also has extensive experience of hosting major sporting events.

However, the Spanish bid is reported to have been weakened by crises affecting the Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol (RFEF), as well as institutional tensions.

Lekjaa, meanwhile, combines several influential roles. He is president of the FRMF, a government minister and a member of the FIFA Council, giving him significant influence within international football’s governing structures.

A report by The Athletic in July said the balance between the two bids had changed considerably. A source close to Spain’s bid reportedly said that, 18 months earlier, it had seemed “impossible” for the Bernabeu to lose the final, but acknowledged that Morocco’s position had since become much stronger.

Lekjaa has maintained for the past year that the final will be played in Morocco.

The country can also point to the symbolic case for an African venue. Africa has hosted only one men’s World Cup, in South Africa in 2010, and therefore only one final.

The 2030 World Cup will be jointly staged by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with three commemorative matches taking place in South America.

The final decision now rests with FIFA. For Lekjaa, though, the contest is already settled: the tournament’s final will be held in Benslimane rather than Madrid.