Morocco and Spain are engaged in a competition to secure hosting rights for the 2030 FIFA World Cup final, as both countries intensify their efforts to hold football’s premier match, according to Reuters.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, but FIFA has not yet decided which nation will stage the tournament final.
Spain has clearly expressed its intention to host the final, while Morocco is challenging this with the construction of a new USD 12-billion, 115,000-seat stadium near Casablanca. This new stadium aims to become the world’s largest football venue and is scheduled for completion by the end of next year.
The Hassan II Stadium, proposed by Morocco for the World Cup final, will compete with Spain’s venues, including Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, which currently holds about 83,000 seats following a renovation completed in late 2024, and Barcelona’s Camp Nou, undergoing redevelopment to increase capacity to 105,000. Although parts of Camp Nou have reopened, the project remains behind schedule.
The lobbying efforts escalated in January when Spanish Football Federation president Rafael Louzan declared Spain’s intent to host the final, also highlighting organisational problems experienced during the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco to support Spain’s candidacy.
Louzan said, “Spain has a proven organisational capacity over many years, and therefore Spain is going to be the one to lead that World Cup 2030 and where the final of the tournament will be played.” He added, “Morocco is really undergoing a transformation, it is true, but some scenes at some matches at the Africa Cup of Nations not only harm the Cup of Nations, but also harm the image of world football.”
The Africa Cup of Nations match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat in January was disrupted by crowd trouble, disputes involving ball boys, and a brief walk-off. The game took place at the newly inaugurated 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium.
Morocco has not responded publicly to Spain’s statements. However, Morocco’s football federation president, Fouzi Lekjaa, emphasised that the decision concerning the hosting of the World Cup final will be made jointly by FIFA and the three host nations, with no venue confirmed yet.
He stated, “No decision has been taken to date regarding the allocation of the matches. These choices are made exclusively through consultations between the three host countries and FIFA,” as quoted by Reuters.
Reuters reports that African football authorities confirm Morocco is actively lobbying behind the scenes to bring the final to Casablanca, and the competition is expected to intensify in the coming months.
If successful, Casablanca would become only the second African city to host a World Cup final after Johannesburg in 2010, where Spain won its only World Cup title. Spain last hosted the tournament final in 1982, when Italy defeated West Germany 3-1 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.