Morocco and Spain in the Race for World Cup 2030 Final
A comprehensive report published by the American newspaper "The Athletic" has revealed that the competition to host the final match of the 2030 FIFA World Cup is primarily narrowing down to Morocco and Spain. Both nations are striving to convince the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to grant them the prestigious honor of organizing the tournament's most significant game.
The report highlighted that the new Hassan II Stadium, currently under construction on the outskirts of Casablanca and expected to accommodate up to 115,000 spectators, serves as Morocco's strongest asset in this competitive race. The Moroccan authorities have allocated substantial investments towards its completion, alongside parallel projects aimed at enhancing infrastructure and transportation networks in alignment with FIFA’s requirements.
Officials in Morocco have expressed their fervent desire to host the final. Yasser Al-Soussi, the Director General of the National Agency for Public Equipment, has previously stated that Morocco aims to host the final match, asserting that the new stadium will meet FIFA’s standards far better than the existing Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
The report also pointed out that Morocco has benefitted in recent years from a national sports strategy that has positioned football as one of its key projects. It emphasized the notable influence of Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, within football decision-making bodies, serving as the first vice-president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a member of the FIFA Council.
Sources familiar with the 2030 World Cup bid have indicated that the Moroccan perspective considers awarding the final match to Casablanca as a more equitable choice, particularly given that Africa has only hosted one final in World Cup history, which took place in South Africa in 2010.
Conversely, the Spanish Football Federation remains steadfast in its belief that the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium should host the final, citing the stadium's historical significance and the fact that Spain has hosted a greater number of matches during the tournament. Spanish sources, however, acknowledge the fierce competition ahead as Morocco positions itself as a strong contender for this prestigious event.
As reported by hespress.com.
