Marruecos se atribuye la final del Mundial 2030 en Casablanca

Marruecos claims the final of the 2030 World Cup will take place at the future Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, within the Casablanca region. Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, confirmed this to EFE. However, FIFA has responded by stating that a decision on the final's location has not been made yet.

Tensions between Morocco and Spain over hosting the 2030 World Cup final continue to rise. This comes after Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa claimed during an electoral event in Buznika that the final will be held in Benslimane, where the Hassan II Stadium is being built. Lekjaa, who also holds the position of Deputy Minister for Budget in Morocco, wields considerable political and institutional influence in the country.

Nonetheless, FIFA swiftly dismissed these claims. According to Marca, the international body insists that the final's location has not been awarded yet and emphasizes that the decision will be made by FIFA at the appropriate time. Reuters has received the same response from a spokesperson for FIFA. This all unfolds amidst the ongoing governance crisis at FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, following the aborted plan to involve private investors in the organization's commercial assets, including those related to the World Cup.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), to which Morocco belongs, has rallied behind Infantino, while UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF have harshly criticized his management. This support from Africa aligns with the competition for the 2030 final, although no evidence connects the two issues. Morocco bases much of its aspirations for the final on the Hassan II Stadium, currently under construction in Benslimane, approximately 60 kilometers from Casablanca.

The stadium is projected to have a capacity of 115,000 spectators and is expected to open its doors by the end of 2027, with an estimated investment of around $1 billion. The stadium's size and design with the World Cup in mind have made it Morocco's most valuable asset in the race for the final. The Santiago Bernabéu stands in contrast, as Spain continues to claim the significance of hosting the decisive match.

The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rafael Louzón, also publicly defended Spain's claim to host the final. Reuters notes that Louzón reiterated his stance in early September that the final should be held in Spanish territory. For now, it is only decided that Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will assume the bulk of the organization for the 2030 World Cup, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will host commemorative matches to celebrate the centenary of the tournament.

Morocco has escalated the pressure by publicly presenting the Casablanca final as a fait accompli. However, FIFA maintains an open race and has clearly stated that the decision has not been made yet. The final word on where the title match will be played will belong to the international body.