The Moroccan Football Association (Moroccan FA), under the leadership of President Fouzi Lekjaa, insists on hosting the 2030 World Cup final in Morocco, despite FIFA rejecting these claims.
On Friday, FIFA announced that the decision on the venue for the 2030 World Cup final will be made 'in due course' after the Moroccan Football Federation president, Fouzi Lekjaa, stated that this major match would take place in Morocco.
Morocco, Spain, and Portugal are jointly hosting the 2030 tournament, and they are already competing for the right to host the final. Among the main contenders are the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid and the planned 115,000-seat stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca.
Lekjaa stated on Wednesday that the final would indeed be held in Morocco. During a public meeting in the region, he noted: 'The province of Benslimane will host the World Cup final. Whether people like it or not.'
Nevertheless, an FIFA representative reported that no decision has been made yet. He clarified: 'As was reported on August 5, 2026, FIFA will make a decision in due course.'
Reaction from Spanish coach
These comments prompted a reaction in Spain, where Real Madrid coach José Mourinho supported the Santiago Bernabéu stadium as an ideal venue for the final. The Portuguese coach told reporters on Friday: 'I would like the final to be held in Lisbon, but I am already satisfied that a country like ours will host at least one match (at the World Cup). '
Mourinho added, referring to the Bernabéu: 'If you can play in a legendary, historic stadium where some of the greatest players in history played, in the stadium of the most important club in football history, then I think it should happen here.' He also mentioned that if he were the coach of Benfica, he would say the same.