Football.. Moroccan-Spanish controversy over hosting the 2030 World Cup final
Anadolu4 min read
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A Moroccan-Spanish controversy has escalated regarding the venue of the 2030 FIFA World Cup final, after Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa announced that the match will take place at the Grand Stade Hassan II currently under construction near Casablanca. This was criticized by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, while the Spanish Federation insisted on its country hosting the final, and FIFA affirmed that the decision has not been settled yet.
Akhannouch said on Friday during an electoral gathering that talking about Morocco hosting the final match should not precede consultation with Spain and Portugal, the Kingdom's partners in organizing the 2030 World Cup.
He added: "Do not offer to host the major final match in Morocco while we have not yet discussed the matter with our allies, Spain and Portugal. There must be some respect, brothers."
The Moroccan Prime Minister stressed that the venue for the final match has not been settled yet, and that the decision is linked to negotiations and arrangements between the three countries and FIFA.
He said: "We have not yet spoken with our Spanish and Portuguese allies," adding that "the venue for the final match is decided by the big players."
Akhannouch's remarks came in response to Lekjaa's announcement on Thursday, during a party meeting, that the Grand Stade Hassan II in the Benslimane province near Casablanca will host the 2030 World Cup final.
Lekjaa said that "the Benslimane province will have the honor of organizing the 2030 World Cup final."
** Spain insists on the final
On the Spanish side, Spanish Football Federation President Rafael Lozano reiterated on Friday his country's persistence in hosting the final match.
Lozano said during a sports forum in Las Palmas that "Spain is the right place" to host the final, given its capabilities in organizing major events and its football standing.
He added: "There is no room for any outcome other than Spain hosting the grand final," noting that his country accounts for about 55 percent of the joint bidding file.
At the same time, Lozano stressed that the final decision has not been made yet, and that settling the match venue is up to FIFA.
Lozano had previously confirmed on more than one occasion Spain's desire to host the final, considering that his country's organizational and sporting potentials support this demand.
** FIFA: No decision made
Amidst the controversy, FIFA confirmed on Thursday that it has not yet made a decision regarding the venue of the 2030 World Cup final.
A spokesperson for the federation said that the decision regarding the final match stadium "will be made in due course."
FIFA had also denied last August reports stating that its president, Gianni Infantino, had promised Morocco to host the final match, affirming at the time that those claims were "false and misleading" and that no decision in this regard had been made.
** Stadium race
The controversy coincides with the ongoing construction work of the Hassan II Stadium in the Benslimane province, which has a targeted capacity of about 115,000 spectators, making it the most prominent stadium Morocco is pushing to host the final match.
In contrast, Spain is putting forward major stadiums to host the match, foremost among them being the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and the Camp Nou in Barcelona.
Morocco, Spain, and Portugal are jointly hosting the 2030 World Cup, while opening matches will be held in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to mark the centenary of the tournament's inception in 1930.
Determining the final match stadium remains in the hands of FIFA, which has confirmed that it has not yet made a final decision regarding it.
