Infantino Allegedly Promises Morocco the 2030 World Cup Final
In a surprising turn of events, FIFA President Gianni Infantino appears to be engaging in high-stakes maneuvering to maintain his position within the organization, reminiscent of a scene from a mafia classic. Reports suggest that Infantino has extended an enticing offer to Morocco, promising the North African nation the opportunity to host the final match of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, provided they back him in his ongoing power struggle for re-election. This revelation, attributed to anonymous sources by "The Times", has yet to elicit a response from FIFA regarding the claims.
Amidst growing pressure following the collapse of his plan to sell World Cup shares to private investors, Infantino held an emergency meeting at FIFA's Africa office located in Salé, near the Moroccan capital of Rabat. His leadership is under scrutiny, and he is actively seeking international support to bolster his tenure as president. The stakes are particularly high as Infantino aims for re-election in the spring of 2027, and as of now, he faces no official challengers, although this could quickly change in light of recent controversies.
UEFA and Others Seek to Oust Infantino
While Africa appears to be rallying behind Infantino, other major football associations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF (which governs North and Central America as well as the Caribbean), are reportedly working to remove him from office. The backing of African nations could prove crucial for Infantino, particularly if he manages to secure the World Cup final on African soil, which would likely solidify votes in his favor during the upcoming election.
Morocco is set to co-host the World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, with three matches planned to take place in South America as part of this unique tournament arrangement. Initially, the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid was considered the frontrunner for the final match in 2030. However, recent discussions indicate that Morocco is pushing for the final to be held in Casablanca, with Infantino reportedly promising that this will indeed be the case.
In anticipation of the tournament, the Stade Hassan II is under construction in Casablanca, aiming to become the world's largest football stadium with a capacity of 115,000. However, critics of Infantino caution that such a promise may lack legal binding, leaving room for future leadership to reverse any agreements made during his tenure. The FIFA Congress, where the 211 member associations will vote for their president, is scheduled for March 18, at Infantino's request, to be held in Rabat, Morocco.
As reported by n-tv.de.
