Morocco and Spain Vie for 2030 World Cup Final Hosting Rights

While Spain wants to see this final played at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, Morocco plans to build the Grand African Stadium, with a capacity of 115,000, in Benslimane near Casablanca, to host the event. For now, the interim president of the Spanish Football Federation, Pedro Rocha, is trying to convince FIFA that the Spanish stadium is the most suitable for the 2030 World Cup final.

No less than 15 stadiums have been identified by Spain to host matches of this World Cup. But none of them have been selected for the opening match, which will be played in Uruguay. The Spanish federation is fighting to have 10 of its stadiums selected. For its part, Morocco hopes to obtain approval for six stadiums (Agadir, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier and Fez), not to mention its clearly stated desire to host the final. Portugal, for its part, is betting on three stadiums, two in Lisbon and one in Porto, relays The Objective.

Morocco is counting on the president of its Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, to weigh in during the vote of the 54 countries that make up the Confederation of African Football (CAF). But the final decision will rest with FIFA, and more specifically with its president, Gianni Infantino. At this level, Fouzi Lekjaa also has a great advantage, as he has been a member of the FIFA Council since March 11, 2021.

Meanwhile, the Spanish federation has not had a confirmed president since the resignation of Luis Rubiales on September 10 and has lost its seat on the FIFA Council since the departure of Angel María Villar in 2017. Some analysts believe that the interim president of the RFEF lacks legitimacy and does not have the freedom to make major decisions. A situation that could negate Spain’s efforts in this rivalry with Morocco regarding the stadium to host the 2030 World Cup final.