Who will host FIFA World Cup 2030 final? Tug-of-war escalates as Morocco PM rebukes FA head; Spain stakes claim
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch ( in picture) directed his criticism at Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) President Fouzi Lekjaa. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch ( in picture) directed his criticism at Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) President Fouzi Lekjaa. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
The dispute over which nation will stage the 2030 FIFA World Cup final sharpened on Friday after Morocco’s Prime Minister urged his country’s football federation chief to stop making premature promises, even as the head of Spain’s FA insisted the showpiece should be held in Spain.
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch criticised Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) President Fouzi Lekjaa, who had declared at a political party event that Casablanca would have the “honour” of hosting the final.
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FIFA, world football’s governing body, has not yet confirmed which of the three co-hosts—Spain, Portugal or Morocco—will hold the 2030 final, with a spokesperson saying a decision would be made in due course.
“Do not offer to host the big final game in Morocco while we still have not discussed the matter with our allies, Spain and Portugal. There should be some respect, brothers,” Akhannouch said at a rally ahead of elections later this month.
“Stop using electoral promises to pull the rug out from under us. These are huge matters. Deciding where the final will be held is a major issue,” he added.
Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan brushed off Lekjaa’s claim as mere election rhetoric and argued that Spain should host the final, pointing to the country’s status as defending world champions.
“Even though no decision has been taken (by FIFA), I believe Spain is the place because it cannot be any other way. As you know, we are currently world champions,” Louzan told Cadena SER radio. “I believe Spain’s organisational capacity for major events is beyond question and that is why reality dictates that the grand final cannot and must not be held anywhere other than in Spain.”
Reuters has contacted the RFEF for comment. As of May, Morocco’s proposed 115,000-seat stadium for the 2030 World Cup was around 30 per cent complete, with officials overseeing the project hoping to complete construction by the end of 2027.
New Jersey was selected to host the 2026 final in July, and FIFA did not make the announcement until February 2024.
Published on Sep 11, 2026
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