Spain insist 2030 World Cup final must be played on home soil

Spanish Football Federation president Rafael Louzan has rejected the possibility of the 2030 World Cup final being staged outside Spain, saying the only acceptable option is for the match to take place in the country.

Louzan was speaking at an event held for the travelling Kings of the World exhibition at Cibeles Palace, ahead of Spain’s match against England at the Metropolitano on Sunday evening.

The final venue remains a point of disagreement between the three principal hosts of the tournament: Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Morocco is seeking to stage the showpiece at a new stadium in Casablanca.

“I want to send a message calling for unity,” Louzan said, in comments published by AS.

But he made clear that Spain’s position was not open to negotiation.

“I also want to confirm that there is only one possibility for that final, and that is for it to be held in this country. In Spain. It is important that we are all convinced of the same thing.”

Louzan added: “It is a World Cup. It is Europe’s turn to host it. We will work to ensure the memory of this tournament remains in Spain.”

The event was also attended by Madrid regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso, Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida and Madrid Football Federation president Paco Diez.

Diaz Ayuso said: “There is a place for everyone in Madrid,” adding that the region remained a sporting territory that rewarded talent and hard work, above all the ability to overcome adversity.

“We are successful very often, and at other times we experience failure, but we always have that ability to rise again when faced with difficulties,” she said.

Martinez-Almeida adopted an even firmer stance on where the final should be played. He said Spain met all the requirements needed to host the last match of the 2030 World Cup.

The mayor warned that, if Spain were not chosen, the country’s role in organising the tournament would have to be reconsidered. He described such a decision as a direct insult to Spain and said there had to be limits.

Martinez-Almeida repeated his view that the final should be held in Spain, as he has done on previous occasions. The tournament is being organised jointly by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay are also involved through stadiums in those countries.

“The final must be held here,” he said. “The initiative came from Spain and Portugal, and Morocco later joined them, despite there being stadiums in other countries, namely Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.”

He added: “Quite honestly, after everything Spanish football gives, would they deny us the final? After what our men’s and women’s national teams and the Olympic team have achieved, and what we have delivered at the European Championship, does anyone have the courage to take the final away from a city with the best stadiums and infrastructure, and the experience of hosting major events?”