Political and sporting tension has flared over the destination of the 2030 FIFA World Cup final after Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch publicly rebuked Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) President Fouzi Lekjaa. Speaking during a political rally ahead of national elections in Morocco, Akhannouch delivered a sharp reprimand to the federation chief following Lekjaa’s declaration that the province of Benslimane, near Casablanca, had secured the rights to stage the showpiece fixture. The Prime Minister stressed that no such promise should be made publicly before formal tripartite consultations take place with co-hosting partners Spain and Portugal.
Akhannouch didn’t mince words during his address, accusing Lekjaa of using unresolved global sporting matters for political leverage. “Do not offer to host the big final game in Morocco while we still have not discussed the matter with our allies, Spain and Portugal,” Akhannouch stated. “There should be some respect, brothers. Stop using electoral promises to pull the rug out from under us. These are huge matters. Deciding where the final will be held is a major issue.” Lekjaa had previously claimed at a political party event that the final would be staged at the Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane. The RMFF didn’t respond to requests seeking comment regarding the internal dispute.
The domestic dispute quickly sparked an international reaction from across the Mediterranean, highlighting the delicate rivalry between the host nations. Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan dismissed Lekjaa’s assertions as election sloganeering while firmly putting forward Spain’s case to host the match. Louzan asserted that the final cannot and mustn’t be held anywhere outside of Spain, pointing to Spain’s standing as defending world champions alongside its extensive historical experience in organizing major global sporting events as the decisive factors.
Despite the competing claims from officials in Rabat and Madrid, FIFA hasn’t officially selected or announced the host venue for the 2030 World Cup final. Morocco is continuing to advance its ambitious stadium development plans in Benslimane to bolster its bid. As of May, construction on the proposed 115,000-seat arena was approximately 30 percent complete. Project officials overseeing the build remain focused on finishing the venue by the end of 2027, even as negotiations over the location of football’s ultimate prize continue behind closed doors.
