Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, says his country will host the final of the 2030 Men's World Cup, though FIFA has made no official announcement to that effect.
The tournament is set to be jointly hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, with three opening matches scheduled in South America to mark the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, which was first played in Uruguay. Lekjaa hopes the final will be staged at the King Hassan II Stadium, a 115,000-seat venue currently being built outside Casablanca in the Benslimane province.
Speaking to political allies at an event on Thursday, Sept. 10, Lekjaa suggested the matter was essentially settled. "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," he said, according to a translation by the Associated Press. "The city is Benslimane, the Hassan II stadium is the stadium, and I hope that Morocco will be playing it."
FIFA, though, isn't confirming anything yet. "As communicated on 5 August 2026, a decision will be made by FIFA in due course," a FIFA spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday, Sept. 10, when asked to comment on Lekjaa's remarks.
A Contested Claim
Lekjaa's comments follow rumors last month in the British press suggesting FIFA President Gianni Infantino may have privately promised Morocco the final in exchange for support ahead of a potential challenge in March's FIFA presidential elections. FIFA has denied those reports.
Spain has its own case to make. Real Madrid's recently renovated Bernabeu now seats more than 80,000, while Barcelona's Camp Nou is expected to hold more than 100,000 fans once renovations are completed in 2027, making both stadiums plausible candidates for the final.
Politics Enter the Picture
The competition to host the final has grown increasingly political since Spain won the 2026 World Cup. In late July, a surge of more than 70,000 migrants crossing into Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave bordering Morocco, led to more than 100 deaths and triggered a political crisis. In its aftermath, political parties in both Spain and Portugal urged their governments to reconsider their hosting partnership with Morocco.
Lekjaa may end up with even more influence over how that relationship plays out. He formally joined Morocco's Authenticity and Modernity Party in late July, months before the country's Sept. 23 parliamentary elections, fueling speculation that he could be eyeing a role as prime minister. Whoever leads Morocco's next government will have significant sway over the planning of the 2030 tournament.
Spanish officials have pushed back on Morocco's claim. "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," said Milagros Tolón, Spain's Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, in an August radio interview. "We have many advantages and strengths as a country."
FIFA previously confirmed the venue for the 2026 final, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, back in February 2024. No such announcement has been made yet for 2030.
