Following statements from Luiggi, FIFA clarifies that no decision has been made regarding the venue for the 2030 World Cup final.

FIFA confirmed on Friday that a decision regarding the venue for the 2030 World Cup final has not yet been made. This follows comments from Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and a member of FIFA's council, who stated that the final will be held in Benslimane.

A FIFA spokesperson, responding to inquiries from Agence France-Presse, clarified that the international body's position has not changed since the announcement made on August 5, 2026, adding that "a decision will be made by FIFA in due course."

Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will jointly host the 2030 edition, with the Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane being one of the Moroccan venues proposed for the final, expected to accommodate around 115,000 fans. Meanwhile, Madrid continues to push for the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid, as a potential final venue.

During a party meeting in Bouznika amid the electoral campaign, Lekjaa, who also holds a position in the political bureau of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, firmly stated that the final will take place in the Benslimane region "whether some like it or not."

Spain Stays in the Race for the Final

Rafael Lozano, president of the Spanish Football Federation, confirmed that Spain does not intend to withdraw easily from the race to host the 2030 World Cup final, rejecting any notion of his country stepping back even if the final is awarded to Morocco.

In remarks made on the program "El Partidazo de COPE," Lozano explained that Spain is bound by official agreements signed with the participating countries in the organization, the Spanish government, and the relevant football bodies, emphasizing that his country leads the project in collaboration with Portugal and Morocco and possesses the technical and organizational capabilities to compete for hosting the final.

Lozano framed Morocco's statements regarding the final being held at the Benslimane Stadium within the context of the electoral campaign and internal political affairs in Morocco, without considering them decisive in the official process of selecting the final venue.

In the same vein, Spanish sports analyst Elias Israel noted that relations between the Spanish and Moroccan federations appear to be cold despite their partnership in the organization file, suggesting that the competition for the final relies more on behind-the-scenes maneuvers than on media statements.

Israel added that Morocco is handling the file, in his view, in a more organized manner at this stage and has strong cards in the competition, pointing to the role played by FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino in the arrangements related to the tournament.

Akhannouch Criticizes Premature Agreements

Within Morocco, Aziz Akhannouch, the head of government and former president of the National Rally of Independents party, previously addressed the topic of the final during a public meeting in the Mediouna region, calling for respect towards Spain and Portugal and urging against preempting agreements related to the tripartite organization.

Akhannouch stated that promises regarding hosting a major final in Morocco should not be made before discussions with Spanish and Portuguese partners, urging against turning major national projects into material for political bidding or electoral promises.

The head of government spoke about the Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, confirming that the project's location was determined by royal decree, and that the funds allocated for its construction come from state resources and revenues, stressing that major infrastructure projects should not be attributed to any individual or political entity.

Akhannouch's stance followed Lekjaa's comments in Bouznika, which directly linked Benslimane to hosting the final, while FIFA later reaffirmed that an official decision has not yet been made.

Benslimane and the Bernabéu in the Spotlight

The Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane is a strong contender for Morocco, with an expected capacity of around 115,000 fans, while Madrid is banking on the "Santiago Bernabéu," which has undergone extensive renovations in recent years and is considered one of the top Spanish stadiums available for hosting major matches.

José Mourinho, Real Madrid's coach, joined the discussion on Friday, expressing his preference for the final to be held in Madrid, noting that he had hoped Lisbon would host the match, but believes that the "Santiago Bernabéu" has historical and symbolic elements that qualify it to host the event.

Mourinho referenced the stadium's history and the stars who have played there, linking his position to Real Madrid's status in global football, asserting that he would express the same opinion if he were coaching Benfica.

According to information provided by the Spanish source, the current proposal for the joint bid includes nine temporary venues in Spain, six in Morocco, and three in Portugal, with expectations that the picture will become clearer in the upcoming stages related to FIFA meetings and scheduled visits as part of the tripartite bid monitoring process.