In what is clearly a political move ahead of elections, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the People’s Party and a candidate for prime minister, has laid down his conditions: if Spain does not get to host the 2030 World Cup final, either in Madrid or Barcelona, the country “must” withdraw from organizing the tournament alongside Morocco and Portugal.
It is a particularly bold statement, reflecting growing frustration on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar. For months, Morocco has faced criticism in Spain, particularly over the Grand Hassan II Stadium, which is also a serious contender to host the tournament’s most important match.
But behind Feijóo’s threat lies a question: what would Spain actually risk if it followed through?
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The country could face serious consequences, particularly financial ones, and potentially sanctions from FIFA. Hosting a World Cup is not something that can be arranged at short notice. It is a lengthy process, tightly regulated by world football’s governing body, and binds host countries to commitments that go far beyond simply making stadiums and other infrastructure available.
Government guarantees, technical bids, assessments, contractual agreements with host cities, stadium operators, transport providers and security authorities: every detail is covered. The entire process rests on precise specifications and formal commitments.
The exact consequences of a possible withdrawal are difficult to determine, however, as the agreements signed with FIFA have not been made fully public. The governing body’s regulations nevertheless offer an indication of the risks, although rules applying to participating national teams cannot automatically be extended to host countries.
FIFA regulations provide for sanctions in certain cases where a participating association withdraws, including possible suspension from competitions organized by the governing body.
FIFA may also demand reimbursement of expenses already incurred, as well as compensation for any damage suffered. These provisions, however, mainly concern the withdrawal of an association taking part in the competition, rather than a host country. The consequences for Spain would therefore depend above all on the contracts signed between FIFA and the parties involved.
One thing is clear: a country that backs out of hosting a World Cup after making contractual commitments cannot simply walk away without potentially being held accountable for failing to meet its obligations.
The example of Colombia
Colombia was selected in 1974 to host the 1986 World Cup. But in October 1982, the government of President Belisario Betancur eventually gave up the hosting rights for economic reasons, as the country was unable to meet FIFA’s requirements. The governing body subsequently awarded the tournament to Mexico following a new selection process.
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A country can therefore withdraw from hosting a World Cup even after being awarded the tournament. Spain’s case, however, would be very different. This is not about economic difficulties or an inability to meet FIFA’s requirements. It is, above all, a matter of pride.
Spain believes the final should be held on its soil and claims the right to host it, yet it has still not settled on whether Madrid or Barcelona should be the venue. Morocco, meanwhile, is putting forward its own case, notably with the Grand Hassan II Stadium, which is set to become one of the largest and most modern stadiums in the world. A project that has clearly touched a nerve across the Strait.
