Mourinho backs Santiago Bernabeu to host 2030 World Cup final

Jose Mourinho says the 2030 World Cup final should be played at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, despite Morocco’s claim that the match should take place in the country.

The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with the final venue still to be confirmed.

Mourinho was asked about the issue at a news conference on Friday, held before Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

“There is a difference between where the match should be played and where I would like it to be played,” Mourinho said, as reported by Spanish newspaper AS.

He then added, laughing: “Forgive me, I would like it to be in Lisbon.”

However, the Real Madrid manager said the final should be staged at the Santiago Bernabeu, the club’s home stadium.

“I will give an answer not because I am Real Madrid’s manager, but because if you can play in a legendary and historic stadium, where some of the best players in the history of the game have played… then it should be here,” he said.

“I would say the same thing if I were Benfica’s manager.”

Mourinho’s comments came after the debate over the final venue was renewed by remarks from Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan Football Federation.

Lekjaa said on Thursday, during an event organised by the Authenticity and Modernity Party in the city of Benslimane, that Morocco would host the match.

“What you should know is that Benslimane province will have the honour of hosting the 2030 World Cup final,” he said.

Lekjaa said the final would be played at the Grand Stade Hassan II, a stadium currently under construction which is planned to hold 115,000 spectators.

The comments prompted a response from a FIFA official, who was quoted by Spanish newspaper Marca as denying that Morocco had been promised the final.

“The decision will be taken at the appropriate time,” the official said.

The 2030 World Cup will be held in four years, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco named as the tournament’s hosts.