Luis Rubiales: "Without Morocco, Saudi Arabia would have won the 2030 World Cup

During the development of this joint project with Spain and Portugal, the former president emphasized the importance of a transcontinental bid. "Without Morocco, Saudi Arabia would have easily won the tender," he stressed, noting that the Kingdom wields major influence within international bodies.

This diplomatic momentum is largely based on the president of the Moroccan football federation, Fouzi Lekjaa. His excellent relations within the African Football Confederation and FIFA have enabled him to rally the federations of the continent, forging a powerful voting bloc.

Faced with this coalition uniting Europe and Africa, Saudi Arabia has ultimately redirected its ambitions towards the 2034 edition. While Luis Rubiales’ statements continue to be cited, the man remains banned from any football-related activity, serving a three-year suspension deemed "reasonable and proportionate" by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Attention and negotiations are now focused on the official distribution of matches between the three host nations. Bolstered by its weight in this electoral victory, Morocco is actively pushing to host the grand final at the future Grand Stade Hassan II, designed to become the largest stadium on the planet.