Spanish Football Federation Responds to Morocco's World Cup 2030 Final Bid
In a significant development regarding the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2030, the comments made by Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, about the possibility of hosting the final match at the Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, have sparked a notable response from Spain. The Spanish football authorities have reiterated their ambition to secure the final match for themselves, emphasizing their commitment to the collaborative hosting project between Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Rafael Lozano, the President of the Spanish Football Federation, expressed Spain's determination to host the final, citing existing commitments and agreements that bind all parties involved in this joint venture.
Lozano's statements, which were reported widely in the Spanish media, highlighted that Madrid was the driving force behind the initiative to host the 2030 World Cup. He pointed out that various agreements have been signed involving the partner nations, FIFA, and the Spanish government. This assertion from the Spanish official clearly indicates that Madrid does not consider the final match's hosting rights to be definitively allocated to Morocco, despite the latter's declaration of the Hassan II Stadium as a prospective venue for the finale of the tournament. Furthermore, Lozano clarified that Spain's insistence on hosting the final does not imply a withdrawal from the World Cup organizing project if Morocco is chosen to host the final, thereby ensuring that the debate remains focused on which stadium will ultimately hold the prestigious match.
This stance from Spain comes amid increasing competition between the two nations over key aspects of the 2030 World Cup, particularly after José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, the President of the Higher Sports Council in Spain, also expressed the country's readiness to robustly defend its chances of hosting the final. Regarding the distribution of matches and venues, Lozano revealed that a final plan has yet to be finalized, although the current proposal suggests the use of nine stadiums in Spain, potentially including those in Valencia and Vigo, compared to six stadiums in Morocco and three in Portugal.
As reported by akhbarona.com.
