Rabat – The debate over the venue for the 2030 World Cup final has intensified after Moroccan football chief Fouzi Lekjaa said the Hassan II Stadium would host the match, prompting FIFA and Spanish football officials to reiterate that no decision has been made.
Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and a member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) Political Bureau, made the claim during an electoral gathering in Benslimane Province on Thursday.
“The province of Benslimane will have the honor of hosting the 2030 World Cup final,” he said, referring to the Hassan II Stadium currently under construction in the province.
FIFA says no
Lekjaa’s statement prompted a clarification from FIFA, which has yet to announce the venue for the tournament’s showpiece match.
A FIFA spokesperson told Reuters that “a decision will be made by FIFA in due course.”
FIFA had also said in August that reports claiming President Gianni Infantino had promised the final to Morocco were “false and misleading.”
The governing body has not finalized all of the cities that will host matches at the 2030 tournament, which Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will jointly host, with the opening three matches taking place in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Louzan rules out spanish withdrawal
Rafael Louzan, President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), also addressed the issue during an appearance on Spanish radio program “El Partidazo de COPE.”
Louzan ruled out any possibility of Spain withdrawing from the 2030 World Cup if the final is ultimately awarded to Morocco, stressing that Spain has existing commitments to the tournament.
“Spain has signed agreements with the other countries, with FIFA, and with the government for the organization of this World Cup,” Louzán said.
He also called for caution over the issue and placed Lekjaa’s comments within the context of Morocco’s electoral campaign.
Louzan maintained that Spain, alongside Portugal, is a promoter of the tournament and has the technical capacity to host the final.
“Spain is the promoter of this World Cup” alongside Portugal, he said, arguing that the country has the necessary capabilities to organize the tournament’s decisive match.
The RFEF president further stressed that FIFA has not taken a decision on the final venue. He said the matter could potentially be decided after the FIFA Congress scheduled to take place in Rabat next year.
Louzan also said FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to visit Spain in the autumn to discuss the organizational criteria and the country’s plans.
Tebas questions FIFA’s denial
The latest developments have also drawn criticism from LaLiga President Javier Tebas, who questioned FIFA’s response to Lekjaa’s statement.
Writing on X, Tebas argued that FIFA’s characterization of reports about a Morocco-hosted final as “false and misleading” raised questions because the claim came directly from Lekjaa.
Tebas pointed out that Lekjaa is not simply an outside commentator, but the president of one of the federations involved in organizing the tournament, a member of the FIFA Council, and a minister delegate in the Moroccan government.
He questioned whether FIFA’s denial should be accepted when the statement about the final came from such a senior Moroccan football and government figure.
Final still up for grabs
Morocco is pushing for the Hassan II Stadium; It is planned to have a capacity of 115,000 spectators, which would make it the largest football-specific stadium in the world.
Spain has repeatedly expressed its desire to host the tournament’s decisive match at either the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid or Barcelona’s Camp Nou.
With both Morocco and Spain seeking the tournament’s showpiece match, the final venue remains unresolved despite Lekjaa’s assertion that Benslimane will host it.
