SOCCER: Spain will host 2030 World Cup final, says RFEF president

MADRID – Spain will host the final match of the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, according to Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzan.

Morocco has expressed interest in hosting the final in Casablanca at the Grand Stade Hassan II, a massive stadium currently under construction north of the city. However, FIFA, the governing body of world football, will have the final decision on the match venue.

“Spain has proven its organizational capacity over many years. It will lead the 2030 World Cup, and the final of that World Cup will be held here,” Louzan said Monday during an event organized by the Madrid Sports Press Association.

Louzan did not specify whether the final would take place at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu or Barcelona’s Camp Nou. Both recently refurbished stadiums remain the leading candidates for the match.

Morocco’s Grand Stade Hassan II

The new Hassan II Stadium in Morocco, once completed, is expected to hold 115,000 spectators. Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) President Faouzi Lekjaa previously expressed hopes of seeing the final hosted in Casablanca against Spain.

“It will definitely be the biggest stadium in the football industry, and if not the biggest, then the second biggest in the world,” said Jorge Betancor, head of operations in Spain for Populous, the global architecture design firm building the stadium.

Construction of the stadium, designed to resemble a traditional Moroccan tent, began late last year and is expected to take approximately two and a half years. The stadium will also be connected to a high-speed train line, part of Morocco’s $10 billion rail network expansion ahead of the tournament.

Challenges for Morocco

Louzan also acknowledged the challenges Morocco faced during the recent Africa Cup of Nations, including disruptions during the final between Senegal and Morocco, which Senegal won 1-0. Fan disruptions and player protests temporarily halted the match, raising concerns about organization.

“Morocco is undergoing a transformation in every sense, with magnificent stadiums,” Louzan said. “We must recognize what has been done well. But in the Africa Cup of Nations, we have seen scenes that damage the image of world football.”

FIFA, as well as the Portuguese and Moroccan football federations, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the final’s location. FIFA previously stated that it is too early to decide the 2030 final venue, noting that host cities for World Cup finals are typically announced only two years before the tournament.

-Reporting by Fernando Kallas and Charlie Devereux; Editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters