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Spain and Morocco are in a dispute over where the 2030 World Cup final will be held. Spain wants the match in Spain, while Morocco is promoting its new Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca.
Rafael Louzán, president of the Spanish Football Federation, said it would be “inexplicable” if the final were not in Spain. Speaking in Madrid, he said Spain carries “55% of the weight of the candidature” and pointed to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou as “exceptional” stadiums. He also praised Morocco’s “remarkable evolution” in football facilities.
Morocco’s Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has rejected Spain’s claims. Speaking to Moroccan TV in July, he said reports that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez secured the Bernabéu were “speculative media” and that no decision has been made about the match locations. “These choices will be discussed between the three host countries and FIFA,” he said.
Media reports show the debate is ongoing. FIFA’s 2024 evaluation listed Hassan II as a leading candidate for the final, noting its 115,000-seat capacity “comfortably exceeds the minimum requirement.” In early 2025, Louzán visited Morocco to lobby for Madrid, saying he “will not let Madrid miss this opportunity.” Lekjaa said the final will be held in “the largest stadium ready for the 2030 World Cup.”
Hassan II is under construction and built specifically for the final. Architect Tarik Oualalou said it was “designed, made for” the 2030 final. The stadium will seat 115,000, more than Bernabéu’s 78,000 and Camp Nou’s 105,000. Morocco is spending more than 5 billion dirhams (~€500m) on the stadium and upgrades to six other venues to meet FIFA standards by 2028.
Moroccan officials say hosting the final in Africa is a top priority. Lekjaa said Morocco is now “a host for major competitions… not a slogan, it’s a reality being built on the ground.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the 2030 tournament will “bring the two continents even closer together.”
Experts say Hassan II’s size and modern design make it a practical choice. Bernabéu has under 80,000 seats, and Camp Nou needs major upgrades. Officials say the final venue will be decided together by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and FIFA.
