The growing apprehension that the most significant event in global football may not take place at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium has transitioned from mere speculation into a palpable fear within the Spanish sporting community. While **Rafael Louzán**, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and a government ally, clings to hope, a substantial portion of the Spanish football landscape believes that the World Cup final is likely to be held in Casablanca. The recent, emphatic statements from former footballer Santi Cañizares have once again highlighted the institutional and political submissiveness that Spain is displaying in its bid to host the grand conclusion of the 2030 World Cup.
"At this moment, Morocco is better prepared to host a final than Madrid. Politically, the deal is already done. I believe we have no chance. I hope I am wrong," asserted the former goalkeeper, directly pointing out the geopolitical power imbalance between the Spanish government in Moncloa and the Moroccan kingdom. "Who is Spain, and who is Morocco, in political terms right now? Which country holds more influence on the global stage? It's evident. **At this moment, we are nobody; Spain is not Morocco**," Cañizares concluded, succinctly summarizing the current state of affairs.
A crucial factor has emerged with the electoral victory of **Fouzi Lekjaa**, the president of the Moroccan Football Federation, who has now become the Prime Minister of Morocco. During his recent campaign, the Moroccan politician stated, "We will mobilize all our institutions and all Moroccans to host the World Cup final in 2030, whether people like it or not."
The Football Diplomacy: Sánchez vs. Rabat's Ambition
The underlying conflict transcends mere sports. Various figures from the football and institutional realms have been warning for months that Morocco's inclusion in the Iberian bid — originally propelled by the promise that the Santiago Bernabéu would host both the final and the inaugural match — has ultimately turned against national interests due to the government’s inaction. Former RFEF president Luis Rubiales recently pointed fingers at the government’s leadership, asserting, **"If the final is not held in Spain, the culprits will be Infantino for dangling the carrot, and Pedro Sánchez for biting it."** Rubiales criticized the government for granting Morocco power shares without demanding solid guarantees that the final would remain in Spain's capital.
Infantino's Lobbying, the United States, and the African Bloc
Morocco is playing its diplomatic and financial cards with an aggressiveness that starkly contrasts the silence emanating from Moncloa. The North African nation is not only constructing the imposing Grand Stadium of Hassan II in Casablanca, designed to accommodate 115,000 spectators, but is also aligning itself with the most significant power blocs that FIFA controls. Morocco assures Gianni Infantino of massive support from the African Football Confederation (CAF) and the Arab world for his re-elections within the organization, a crucial voting bloc amid UEFA's distancing. Moreover, Morocco enjoys strategic relations with the United States: the robust geopolitical alliance Rabat maintains with Washington grants it a privileged position on the global stage, serving as a vital bridge in the circuit of major sporting events. The president of LaLiga, **Javier Tebas**, has also issued warnings along similar lines, acknowledging that if FIFA retains Gianni Infantino in his position, the possibility of the Bernabéu hosting the final is severely jeopardized. The current FIFA president — with elections scheduled for 2027 — has excellent relations with Morocco and with **Donald Trump**, who has vested interests in ensuring that the final occurs in Morocco rather than Spain.
As Morocco constructs record-setting stadiums and exerts pressure within political corridors with all the might of its state apparatus, the institutional landscape in Spain appears bleak. Why does the Spanish government refrain from engaging in a public battle for the Santiago Bernabéu while Morocco openly claims the final?
As reported by libertaddigital.com.
