Morocco's football chief insists Casablanca will host 2030 World Cup final as Spain dispute intensifies

Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa declared on Thursday that the 2030 FIFA World Cup final will be held in Benslimane, near Casablanca, escalating a public dispute with Spain over the right to host football’s most prestigious match. FIFA has yet to formally announce the venue, and the governing body has explicitly denied that president Gianni Infantino made any such promise to Morocco.

Speaking at a political party event in Bouznika, Lekjaa was unequivocal: “The province of Benslimane will have the honour of hosting the 2030 World Cup final,” according to Spanish news agency EFE, which first reported his remarks.

Benslimane sits roughly 60 kilometres from Casablanca and is the site of the under-construction Hassan II Stadium, a $12 billion project expected to hold 115,000 spectators. When completed, it will be the largest football-specific stadium in the world.

Spain has pushed back firmly. Rafael Louzan, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, told local media earlier this month that “Spain should host the final,” while sports minister Milagros Tolón argued her country had earned the right through its recent success on the pitch. “We are the reigning men’s and women’s World Cup champions, and Spain and Portugal spearheaded the bid for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco later joined,” Tolón told Cadena Ser last month.

FIFA moved to cool speculation in August, with a spokesperson stating it was “false and misleading to claim the FIFA president has made any promise in relation to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 final. A decision will be made by FIFA in due course.” Requests for comment sent to FIFA and the Royal Spanish Football Federation following Lekjaa’s latest remarks had not been answered at the time of reporting.

The 2030 tournament will be the most geographically spread in the competition’s history, with matches played across six nations on three continents. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will each host one commemorative fixture marking the centenary of the first World Cup, while the bulk of the tournament will be shared between Morocco, Portugal and Spain. FIFA has not yet confirmed all host cities for the main draw.