World Cup 2030 final: Barcelona, Madrid and Casablanca in political battle

The contest to host the 2030 World Cup final has become a political and diplomatic dispute involving Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou, Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu and the Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca.

The decision is not expected before 2028, although Fifa is currently revisiting venues in Spain, Portugal and Morocco before the final list of host stadiums is approved, potentially in the first half of next year.

The joint bid submitted by the football associations of Spain, Portugal and Morocco in July 2024 included the three stadiums as candidates for both the opening match and the final.

Its proposed host cities also included Malaga and La Coruna, but both later withdrew. San Sebastian and Bilbao have expressed reservations, while Valencia and Vigo are seeking to be added after initially being excluded.

Fifa officials have visited the Camp Nou and Bernabeu during a new inspection of Spanish venues over the past two weeks.

At a meeting with the Spanish Football Federation, its president Rafael Louzan told representatives of Fifa president Gianni Infantino that he could not envisage the final being staged outside Spain.

Spanish football authorities and political institutions have maintained for more than two years that the showpiece match will be held in a Spanish city. The Moroccan government even stated several months ago that the matter had already been settled, before withdrawing the claim after it triggered controversy.

However, it remains unclear which body within Fifa will make the final decision. The organisation’s statutes say its 37-member council, whose members are selected by national associations, determines the dates and venues for matches at final tournaments. They do not clarify whether that authority specifically covers the final.

2026 precedent adds to uncertainty

Fifa announced in February 2024 that the 2026 World Cup final would be played in New York and New Jersey rather than Dallas, which had also been bidding to host it.

Fifa competitions director Manuel Zubiria said the decision was still being discussed around two days beforehand, if not as late as the previous evening. That has led to the belief that the council did not make the choice, with the prevailing view being that Infantino decided it with members of his inner circle.

The initial Spain-Portugal-Morocco bid, led by the Spanish Football Federation under Luis Rubiales, ranked Santiago Bernabeu as the leading option for the final. During Louzan’s presidency of the Spanish federation, Camp Nou was placed on an equal footing, although the priority was said to be ensuring the match took place in a Spanish city.

The government of Pedro Sanchez has not publicly backed either venue. Spain and its federation are expected to settle on one option in private negotiations with Fifa over the coming months, partly to prevent Casablanca from being selected.

Which Spanish city receives that support may be linked directly to the outcome of the general election.

Although national associations formally submit tournament bids rather than governments, political support remains important because an event of this scale cannot be organised without public institutions.

The People’s Party has pledged in its election programme that Spain would not host the 2030 World Cup if the final were held at the Hassan II Stadium. Louzan, a former president of the Pontevedra provincial council for the party, rejected that possibility, saying: “Spain signed agreements with the other countries and with Fifa to organise this World Cup.”

Sumar, Podemos and Vox have called for Spain to withdraw from co-hosting the tournament with Morocco, although parliament was dissolved before the proposal could be debated or put to a vote.

Another key factor could be the Fifa presidential election in March. Javier Tebas, president of La Liga and a Spanish federation vice-president, said: “If Infantino remains in office, Spain’s chances of hosting the 2030 World Cup final will be slim.”

Spain and Portugal have not joined the public opposition to Infantino expressed by most European associations and UEFA. Morocco is regarded as one of his most loyal allies, having honoured him publicly, while Fifa has opened its African office in Rabat and held a meeting in the Moroccan capital linked to his possible re-election as president.