The president of the Spanish Football Federation has declared that holding the 2030 World Cup final in Spain is non-negotiable, intensifying the rivalry with co-host Morocco over the tournament's most prestigious match. Rafael Louzán made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at a conference in Madrid, stating that the Spanish federation has no alternative roadmap and cannot accept the final being staged outside its borders. The official decision regarding the venue is scheduled to be made in 2028.
Louzán’s firm stance appears to be a direct response to political pressure from Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the opposition People’s Party. Feijóo had previously suggested that if he were elected prime minister in the upcoming general election, he would advocate for Spain to withdraw from the joint hosting bid if Morocco were awarded the final. Louzán dismissed this notion as entirely hypothetical, insisting that Spain remains fully committed to the partnership with Morocco and Portugal. "Spain is organising the next World Cup with Portugal and Morocco," Louzán noted, emphasizing that the staging of the final belongs to the European continent under FIFA's traditional rotation principles.
Behind the scenes, Real Madrid has actively campaigned for its renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to host the final. During a visit by FIFA technical experts in Madrid, club officials argued that their experience in organizing major global events provides a significant advantage over other venues, including Morocco’s planned Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane. A Real Madrid representative told the delegation that while building a stadium is one thing, possessing the team and infrastructure to run events smoothly is another. The club highlighted its recent hosting of an NFL game as proof of its operational capabilities.
Morocco has also been vocal in its pursuit of the final. Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, stated in September that the match would be held in Benslimane regardless of opposition. The 115,000-capacity Hassan II Stadium is currently under construction near Casablanca. FIFA has not yet announced the venue, leaving both nations to continue their lobbying efforts. Louzán confirmed that Spain is still working to secure FIFA’s support and that more efforts are required to win the bid.