FIFA Denies Morocco's Claim to Host World Cup Final
In a recent statement, FIFA has addressed the assertions made by Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, regarding Morocco's potential hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup final. Despite Lekjaa's confident announcement at a political rally that Morocco had secured the right to host the grand finale, FIFA has firmly stated that no decision has been finalized regarding the venue for the final match. This clarification comes as Morocco prepares to co-host the tournament alongside Spain and Portugal, marking a significant moment as it will be only the second time that an African nation stages World Cup final games, following South Africa's historic hosting in 2010.
FIFA conveyed to various media outlets that the announcement of the final's host city would be made “in due course,” leaving the football community in anticipation. Lekjaa, in his bold declaration, specified that the city of Benslimane and the King Hassan II Stadium, which is under construction near Casablanca and boasts a capacity of 115,000 seats, would serve as the venue for the final. His statement, as reported by The Associated Press, seemed to assert a strong belief in Morocco's capabilities to host such a prestigious event, as he expressed hopes that the Moroccan national team would be competing there.
Furthermore, FIFA has dismissed previous claims circulating in British media that suggested President Gianni Infantino had promised Morocco the final in exchange for political backing during his upcoming re-election campaign. This denial underscores FIFA's commitment to a transparent and fair selection process for World Cup hosting duties.
As reported by aljazeera.com.
