Morocco PM tells football chief to stop promising 2030 World Cup final

Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has publicly urged the country’s football federation president to stop suggesting that Casablanca will host the 2030 World Cup final, insisting no decision has yet been agreed with co-hosts Spain and Portugal.

The expanded 2030 tournament will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the opening three matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the World Cup’s centenary.

While FIFA has proposed a list of host stadiums, it has yet to confirm which venue will stage the final.

The intervention came after Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) president Fouzi Lekjaa told a political party event that Casablanca would have the “honour” of hosting the showpiece.

Speaking at another rally, Akhannouch rebuked Lekjaa, saying the matter had not been settled between the three host nations.

“Do not offer to host the big final game in Morocco while we still have not discussed the matter with our allies, Spain and Portugal,” he said.

“There should be some respect, brothers. Stop using electoral promises to pull the rug out from under us. These are huge matters. Deciding where the final will be held is a major issue.”

FIFA responded by saying only that “a decision will be made in due course”.

Spain also staking its claim

Morocco is not the only country confident of staging the final.

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan has repeatedly argued that Spain is the natural choice, saying the country’s case has been strengthened after winning this summer’s men’s World Cup.

“Even though no decision has been taken, I believe Spain is the place because it cannot be any other way,” Louzan told Cadena SER.

“As you know, we are currently world champions.”

He added that Spain’s track record of hosting major sporting events meant “the grand final cannot and must not be held anywhere other than in Spain”.

Spain defeated Argentina to lift this year’s World Cup title, although the venue for that final in New Jersey was only confirmed in February 2024, two years before the tournament.

Stadium battle

Morocco is building a proposed 115,000-seat stadium near Casablanca that would become the largest football stadium in the world.

Spain also has two heavyweight contenders, with Real Madrid’s renovated Santiago Bernabeu holding around 83,000 spectators and Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou set to reach 105,000 once its redevelopment is complete.

With FIFA yet to make its decision, the race to host one of football’s biggest occasions remains open.