The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rafael Louzán, recently emphasized that there is "no justification whatsoever" for Spain not to host the final match of the Centenary World Cup. His remarks came during a visit to Morocco, where he highlighted the importance of maintaining a united front in the joint bid with Morocco and Portugal.
In his interview with the newspaper AS, Louzán passionately defended Spain's candidacy to host the grand finale of the 2030 World Cup, particularly in light of the growing concerns in Spain regarding the promotional efforts by Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), at the 2026 World Cup aimed at garnering international support for Morocco's proposal.
He stated, "I have no doubt that there is no justification for Spain not being the destination for the grand final of the Centenary World Cup," acknowledging that discussions about the final's location would likely continue for years to come. When asked about the possibility of Morocco ultimately being selected to host the final, Louzán quipped, "It seems someone has a special preference for Morocco, doesn't it?" This statement reflects the competitive nature of the bidding process.
Nevertheless, he toned down the controversy, underscoring the necessity of a fully cohesive candidacy. Louzán remarked, "What we need is to have a perfectly cohesive bid. This is not just one country; we are three continents, six countries working together with FIFA," referring to the tricontinental nature of the 2030 bid.
While acknowledging that the debate regarding the final's venue will be a recurring topic, he suggested that now is not the time to delve into it. Instead, he called for collaboration among the involved federations and governments to ensure the organization of "the best World Cup in history." As of now, FIFA has yet to announce the stadium that will host the final match of the 2030 tournament. Morocco is aiming to hold the final at the Grand Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, which is currently under construction, while Spain is advocating for Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and has also considered the option of Spotify Camp Nou, pending completion of its renovations.
Additionally, in the same interview, Louzán expressed his desire to extend Luis de la Fuente's tenure as head coach of the Spanish national team, describing the renewal of the coach as "fair and necessary" and indicating his intention to ensure that de la Fuente remains in place through the World Cup of 2030.
As reported by es.le360.ma.
