Rabat — LaLiga President Javier Tebas has warned that Spain’s chances of hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup final could become “minimal or nonexistent” if Gianni Infantino remains FIFA president, adding another layer to the growing dispute over where the tournament’s decisive match should be played.
Speaking to reporters during the World Football Summit in Madrid, Tebas questioned Infantino’s credibility and suggested that Spain would need to reconsider its position within the 2030 World Cup project if the final is ultimately awarded to Morocco.
“If Infantino continues in his position, the probability of Spain hosting the World Cup final will be very slim or non-existent,” Tebas said.
Tebas has repeatedly criticized Infantino and FIFA in recent months, particularly following FIFA’s response to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaa’s declaration that the 2030 final would be played at the Hassan II Stadium in the Casablanca region.
Tebas aims Infantino again
The LaLiga chief’s latest comments went beyond the World Cup final itself, as he questioned whether Infantino should continue leading world football.
“Infantino is untrustworthy,” Tebas said. “Can someone be trustworthy when they call for a red card to be overturned and it is overturned at the World Cup? He is untrustworthy, and has been for some time, concerning many issues.”
Tebas was referring to the controversy surrounding a red-card suspension being overturned during the recent World Cup, an incident he has previously cited while criticizing FIFA’s leadership.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027, meaning the future of Infantino’s leadership could become an increasingly relevant factor in the debate surrounding the 2030 final.
Spain-Morocco battle continues
The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with the opening matches also involving Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The final venue, however, remains undecided.
Morocco is seeking to host the match at the Hassan II Stadium in the Casablanca region. The venue is under construction and is planned to accommodate around 115,000 spectators, making it one of the most ambitious stadium projects associated with the tournament.
Spain, meanwhile, has put forward its established football infrastructure and major stadiums as part of its case. The Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and Barcelona’s Camp Nou have both been discussed as potential venues for the final.
Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzan has repeatedly argued that Spain should host the tournament’s showpiece match, while Spanish officials continue to make the case for the country’s experience and infrastructure.
For now, FIFA has made clear that no final decision has been taken.
The increasingly public disagreement, however, shows that the race for the 2030 final has moved well beyond a question of stadium capacity.
With Morocco and Spain both making increasingly confident claims about their prospects, the venue debate is becoming intertwined with wider questions surrounding FIFA leadership, the tournament’s organization, and the relationship between the three hosts.
