Morocco and Spain joust over which will host 2030 World Cup final amid border crisis
Morocco says the final belongs in Benslimane, while Spain argues its world champion status and major stadiums make it the proper host, officials said.
- Morocco and Spain are locked in a high-stakes contest to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final, though FIFA has yet to officially announce which country will host the biggest match of the tournament.
- Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa claimed on Thursday that Benslimane will host the final, citing the $12 billion Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, projected to hold 115,000 spectators.
- Countering the Moroccan claim, Spanish federation president Rafael Louzan told local media earlier this month that Spain should host the final, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino dismissed reports he promised the match to Morocco as "false and misleading."
- Diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Rabat complicate the dispute, frayed by late July border incidents when tens of thousands of migrants pushed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta; FIFA President Infantino has made two recent trips to Morocco amid European pressure.
- The 2030 FIFA World Cup spans six countries across three continents for the first time, with games held in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Morocco, Portugal and Spain; European soccer officials argue the multi-nation tournament should conclude on the continent.
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Casablanca Eyed as 2030 World Cup Final Host | Sports-Games
The excitement builds as Casablanca emerges as a potential host for the 2030 World Cup final, amid a fierce bidding war between Spain and Morocco. FIFA has yet to announce the official venue. The proposed venue in Casablanca, with a massive capacity, promises to deliver an incredible experience.
Morocco and Spain joust over which will host 2030 World Cup final amid
FILE - CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino wave from the tribune during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between South Africa and Cameroon in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
The said Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Maghreb federation, caused concern in the Hispanic country, in addition to increasing tensions between FIFA and UEFA. "The province of Benslimane will welcome the definition of the World Cup, like anyone who likes it," he said.
The Toronto Star
Morocco and Spain joust over which will host 2030 World Cup final amid border crisis
CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Morocco and Spain are arguing over the right to host the 2030 World Cup final — with besieged FIFA boss Gianni Infantino hovering backstage.
FIFA has not yet officially announced the distribution of the games by the organizing countries
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