A day after Morocco, Spain, and Portugal were named joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup, tension has arisen as both Morocco and Spain lay claim to being the venue for the tournament’s final match.
Spain’s Sports Minister, Miquel Iceta, expressed his expectation that the final would be held in Spain during an interview on Onda Cero radio. He cautioned against being overly confident but hinted at Spain’s aspirations.
In contrast, Fouzi Lekjaa, the head of Morocco’s football federation, emphasized Casablanca as the desired location for the final. Lekjaa expressed hope that Morocco’s efforts would be rewarded with a historic final held in Casablanca Stadium.
The FIFA announcement awarding the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal came as a surprise, a year earlier than anticipated. As part of the celebration marking the tournament’s centenary, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will host three matches.
Argentina has also expressed its desire to host more games than the single opening match it has been allocated.
This dispute over the final’s location underscores the complexity of organizing a multi-country World Cup and coordinating various aspects of the tournament, including match venues.
It’s worth noting that relations between Spain and Morocco have historically been marked by disputes over issues like migration and territory. Regular diplomatic crises have arisen due to Spain’s enclaves in Africa and the flow of illegal migrants from Morocco to Spain.
However, ties between the two nations improved in recent years, particularly as Madrid moved closer to Morocco’s stance on the Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by Rabat, but where the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks independence.
To address these issues and decide on match scheduling, Morocco, Spain, and Portugal are set to meet in Rabat on October 18. Morocco has designated six cities as match venues, and it’s expected that negotiations will continue to determine key aspects of the 2030 World Cup.
