Spanish radio station Cadena COPE has indicated that Morocco holds a significant advantage in the negotiations surrounding the venue for the final match of the 2030 World Cup. According to their analysis, the capital city of Rabat is said to be "cooking better and has stronger cards" in this high-stakes discussion. The commentary also noted that the "dealer" in these negotiations—FIFA President Gianni Infantino—seems to be leaning in Morocco's favor.
Sports commentator Elias Israel, during his appearance on the program El Partidazo de COPE, highlighted the implications of comments made by the President of the Spanish Football Federation, Rafael Lozano, regarding Spain's potential withdrawal from organizing the World Cup if the final were assigned to Morocco. He suggested that Lozano's assertion that Spain could not easily withdraw signifies the existence of commitments and agreements that complicate any step back from the joint project.
Israel further pointed out the so-called "cold relationship" between the Spanish and Moroccan football federations, suggesting that the disagreement over the final venue transcends mere sports considerations and is influenced by broader strategic calculations related to the management of the 2030 World Cup dossier and the ongoing negotiations concerning match distributions.
In this context, Elias Israel stressed Gianni Infantino's pivotal role in the equation, reminding listeners that the FIFA president enjoys the support of numerous smaller football federations, a factor that should be considered when assessing the power dynamics influencing the final decision.
Rafael Lozano confirmed during the same program that Spain will not withdraw from hosting the 2030 World Cup even if the final is decided to take place in Morocco. He emphasized that there are signed agreements with the involved countries, governmental bodies, and international football organizations, amidst Morocco's push to advocate for a stadium in Casablanca to host the most critical match of the tournament.
The Spanish federation president linked Moroccan statements regarding hosting the final in Casablanca to the electoral context in Morocco, reiterating that Spain is leading the project alongside Portugal and possesses the necessary technical and organizational capabilities to host the final match.
Regarding the distribution of stadiums, Lozano clarified that the joint bid currently includes nine stadiums in Spain, with efforts to add the cities of Vigo and Valencia, alongside six stadiums in Morocco and three in Portugal, asserting that this distribution remains flexible and has not yet been finalized.
As the project progresses, clarity on which stadium will host the final match is expected to emerge, particularly with the upcoming FIFA conference scheduled to take place in Rabat next year. Furthermore, Gianni Infantino is anticipated to visit Spain in the fall to discuss organizational criteria and review the latest developments concerning the joint candidacy of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
As reported by assahifa.com.
