Rumors surrounding the venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup final spread widely on Wednesday, August 5, after British newspaper The Times reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had allegedly promised Morocco the right to host the tournament’s final in exchange for support for his bid to remain at the helm of world football’s governing body in the next presidential election.
A few hours after the article was published, FIFA issued a formal denial to Spanish news agency EFE. The governing body described the claims as “false and misleading,” stating that Gianni Infantino had made “no promise” regarding which country would host the final of the 2030 World Cup, which will be jointly staged by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
According to The Times, the FIFA president allegedly discussed the possibility during his visit to Morocco, where he convened senior FIFA officials in Rabat on Wednesday for what the newspaper described as a “crisis meeting.”
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The British daily claimed that the proposal was intended to “consolidate Infantino’s support” ahead of his bid for re-election as FIFA president in 2027.
FIFA, however, moved to quash the speculation, reiterating that no decision has yet been made regarding the stadium that will host the 2030 World Cup final and that a choice will be made “in due course.”
Morocco’s future Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, which is expected to become the world’s largest stadium, could host the match, while Spain hopes Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will be selected for the event.
