Morocco has announced that it plans to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in Casablanca, even though FIFA has not officially confirmed the venue for the tournament’s showpiece match.
Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, disclosed the plan on Thursday during a political party event in Bouznika, Morocco.
According to Spanish news agency EFE, Lekjaa said Benslimane province, near Casablanca, would host the final.
“The province of Benslimane will have the honour of hosting the 2030 World Cup final,” Lekjaa said.
Benslimane is about 60 kilometres from Casablanca and is the planned site of the Hassan II Stadium, which is being built for the 2030 tournament.
The proposed stadium is expected to hold about 115,000 spectators, potentially making it the world’s largest football-specific stadium. The project has been estimated to cost about $12 billion.
However, Morocco’s announcement does not settle the matter, as FIFA is yet to officially select the venue for the final.
Spain is also seeking to host the match. Rafael Louzán, president of the Spanish Football Federation, said earlier this month that Spain should stage the final.
FIFA said in August that reports claiming its president, Gianni Infantino, had promised Morocco the final were “false and misleading.”
The dispute comes as Morocco, Spain and Portugal prepare to jointly host the 2030 World Cup.
FIFA confirmed the three countries as tournament hosts in December 2024. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will also host one centenary celebration match each.
The arrangement will see the tournament span six countries across three continents as FIFA marks 100 years since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930.
The opening three matches are scheduled to take place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay before the tournament moves mainly to Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
FIFA has yet to finalise all the host cities, with the location of the final emerging as one of the major points of contention among the co-hosts.
