FIFA Breaks Silence on 2030 World Cup Final Venue Amid Morocco-Spain Row
FIFA has clarified that no final decision has been made on the venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup final, despite claims that Morocco has already secured the right to host the tournament’s prestigious final match.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the three countries already campaigning to stage the marquee fixture.
Two major venues have emerged as the leading candidates for the final. Spain is pushing for Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, while Morocco has positioned the proposed 115,000-seat Grand Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, as its preferred venue.
The controversy followed public comments by Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), who claimed during a political rally in Rabat that Morocco had secured the World Cup final for the proposed Benslimane stadium.
“The city of Benslimane will host the World Cup final. Hate it or love it, and if anyone wants to talk on top of that, let them talk,” Lekjaa stated.
He added: “The city is Benslimane, the Hassan II stadium is the stadium, and I hope that Morocco will be playing in it.”
Lekjaa’s comments immediately triggered reactions in Spain, where football figures advocated for the Santiago Bernabéu to host the final.
Former Real Madrid manager José Mourinho also publicly endorsed the Spanish venue, describing the Bernabéu as the logical choice for the climax of the tournament.
“If you can play in a legendary, historic stadium, where some of the greatest players in history have played, the stadium of the most important club in the history of football, then I think it should be here,” Mourinho stated while speaking about the Bernabéu.
The comments have therefore fuelled a growing debate over which of the competing venues should host the final of the 2030 tournament.
However, FIFA has now moved to put the record straight, insisting that the selection process has not been concluded.
Responding to the reports and the comments surrounding the Benslimane stadium, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the formal procedures for selecting the venue remain ongoing.
“As communicated on 5 August 2026, a decision will be made by FIFA in due course,” the spokesperson said.
The statement effectively dismissed suggestions that an agreement had already been reached before FIFA’s official ratification process.
The governing body’s clarification means that, despite Lekjaa’s assertion that Benslimane will host the final and Spain’s campaign for the Santiago Bernabéu, neither venue has been officially confirmed by FIFA.
The issue is expected to remain a major talking point as preparations continue for the 2030 World Cup, particularly with Morocco and Spain both seeking to host one of the most prestigious fixtures in international football.
Global Mirror News reports that the final decision will ultimately rest with FIFA after the completion of the formal selection and ratification procedures.
