FIFA Maintains Mystery Over 2030 World Cup Final Venue After Moroccan Official's Claim

Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, stated on Thursday that the final of the 2030 World Cup will be held in Casablanca, Morocco. Lekjaa made the announcement during a political event in Bouznika, asserting that the province of Benslimane will have the honor of hosting the match. The game would take place at the Grand Stade Hassan II, a stadium currently under construction with an estimated cost of 1 billion dollars and a projected capacity of 115,000 people. If completed as planned, it would be the largest stadium in the world dedicated exclusively to football.

FIFA has not officially confirmed the venue and a spokesperson stated that the decision will be taken in due course. This follows a statement in August where FIFA described reports that President Gianni Infantino had promised the final to Morocco as false and misleading. Meanwhile, Rafael Louzan, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, has publicly argued that Spain should host the final.

The 2030 tournament will feature a unique format with matches played across six countries. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will host the opening matches for their respective teams to honor the centennial of the first World Cup. The majority of the tournament will be organized by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.

Outlets with a center lean focused on the factual contradiction between Lekjaa's claims and FIFA's lack of official confirmation. Center right outlets framed the event as a strategic pressure tactic by Morocco or a trigger for a diplomatic and sporting crisis in Spain, noting the political context of Lekjaa's campaign and the relationship between FIFA and UEFA. Center left outlets presented the information as a claim by the Moroccan federation that remains unverified by the global governing body.