Moroccan official told to stop making 2030 final promise

What the report says

Morocco’s prime minister has publicly urged the head of the country’s football federation to stop making claims about where the 2030 World Cup final will be staged, after federation president Fouzi Lekjaa suggested Casablanca could host the match. The BBC Sport report says the comments came amid continuing discussion over the tournament’s central match, which has not yet been formally assigned by Fifa.

The 2030 men’s World Cup is due to be shared by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the opening three fixtures also set to be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as part of the competition’s 100th anniversary celebrations. While host stadiums have been proposed, the final venue remains undecided. Fifa said a decision will be made later, according to the BBC.

Moroccan prime minister Aziz Akhannouch told Lekjaa not to make promises before the issue is discussed with Spain and Portugal, saying such decisions are significant and should not be treated as political talking points. On the Spanish side, federation president Rafael Louzan has said he believes the final should be in Spain, arguing the country’s record in staging major events and its status as world champions make its case strongest.

The BBC also notes that Morocco is building a proposed 115,000-seat stadium, while major venues in Madrid and Barcelona have recently been expanded or renovated. The debate highlights how large-scale tournament planning can remain unsettled years before kickoff.