FIFA Considers Cutting Stadiums for 2030 World Cup, Including One in Morocco

FIFA believes that the number of stadiums (20) selected to host the 2030 World Cup is too high and "is considering the possibility of excluding three stadiums - two in Spain and one in Morocco," reports Infobae, citing the sports program of the Spanish radio station El Larguero. And the Fez stadium could be excluded from the tournament’s plans. In Spain, the Riazor stadium in La Coruña and the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastián are targeted. For now, no official announcement has yet been made on this subject. Should this exclusion be effective, there would be lively discussions in the coming months.

According to Morocco’s bid file for the World Cup, the Fez stadium renovation project received a FIFA evaluation score of 4.1 out of 5, placing it among the strongest candidates in the Moroccan portfolio. The work is supervised by the National Society for the Management of Sports Infrastructures (SONARGES). It will be carried out in two phases. The first, which began in January 2024, includes the modernization of the locker rooms, the main entrances and various indoor facilities. Its objective is to prepare the stadium to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) which will take place in Morocco.

The second phase, scheduled after the competition, will consist of removing the athletics track, lowering the level of the field, completely covering it, modernizing the parking lots and increasing their capacity. All the work should be completed by 2028.