“We will mobilize all institutions and all Moroccans to host the 2030 World Cup final.” Speaking in Benslimane during an event organized by the Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM), Fouzi Lekjaa stressed that the entire country would be involved in Morocco’s efforts to host the final of the 2030 World Cup, which the Kingdom will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Since Morocco first entered the bidding process, football officials and public institutions have worked toward the same goal, presenting a unified approach to the Kingdom’s World Cup plans, both in terms of organization and infrastructure and with a view to hosting the final.
The match is expected to be held in Benslimane at the new Hassan II Grand Stadium, which is set to have a capacity of 115,000 and a modern design meeting the standards of major international competitions.
Model of the Grand Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane.
In Spain, meanwhile, the race for the final has brought Madrid and Barcelona into competition, with the Santiago Bernabéu and Camp Nou respectively put forward as potential venues. The two cities, already divided by political, institutional and sporting rivalries, have both insisted that “the final must be in Spain.”
The debate has since taken on a new dimension, with Spanish institutions and football authorities increasingly focusing on securing the tournament’s final as Morocco’s plans for its new stadium in Benslimane have taken shape.
From the Spanish government and the football federation to LaLiga and the National Sports Council, the 2030 World Cup final has become a major issue in recent weeks.
The latest Spanish official to weigh in was José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, president of the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD), who said Thursday that Spain had “enough strong arguments” to convince FIFA to award it the final of the tournament jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal.
Lekjaa’s response was clear. Against what Spain considers its “strong arguments,” Morocco will rely on a united national effort to make the final in Casablanca an unprecedented event. Without going into further detail or engaging in a war of words, he pointed to a major investment around the tournament’s showpiece match.
This is not the first time Lekjaa has addressed the issue. After months of silence in the face of repeated statements from Spain, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said at a recent PAM meeting in Bouznika that he hoped Benslimane province would have the “honor” of hosting the final. His remarks came in response to repeated comments from his Spanish counterpart, Rafael Louzán, who had been increasingly vocal on the issue.
