Morocco Unveils Plans for 115,000-Seat Stadium to Rival Bernabéu for 2030 World Cup Final

The governing body of world football would be impressed by the modernity and technological prowess of the recently renovated Madrid stadium, believes El Debate.

This 2030 World Cup will be jointly organized by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Moreover, King Mohammed VI has proposed the construction of a new stadium in El Mansouria, 38 kilometers from Casablanca, to host the final. This pharaonic project, which plans a capacity of 115,000 spectators, is only in its early stages. The proposed site is currently just a vacant lot, mocks the Spanish media.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, is well acquainted with Spain from his past work there. He would have analyzed the various candidatures with his teams, and the Bernabéu would emerge as the ideal venue for the final.

FIFA experts highlight the technological assets of the Chamartín stadium, with a capacity of 80,000 spectators: state-of-the-art Wi-Fi connections, a 360-degree giant screen, a retractable roof... All infrastructures that are lacking in the two other candidates: the future Camp Nou and the still "hypothetical" project of El Mansouria.

The Madrid stadium, inaugurated in 1947, has already hosted the World Cup final in 1982. Florentino Pérez, the current president of Real Madrid, has undertaken major renovation work, making the Bernabéu a cutting-edge facility.

It remains for FIFA and Real Madrid to find common ground on the duration of the stadium’s availability. FIFA would like to have the Bernabéu for three months, from May to July 2030, which would deprive the Madrid club of significant revenue from the organization of concerts and other events. Real Madrid, for its part, proposes a one-month concession. Negotiations are underway to set the amount of financial compensation, which could approach 30 million euros.

While the Bernabéu candidacy seems to be in the lead, it faces political pressures in Spain. The Catalan parties are putting pressure on the Spanish government to support the candidacy of the Camp Nou, currently under reconstruction, or, failing that, that of Morocco.

FIFA’s choice should be made official soon.