Lekjaa throws down the gauntlet: Morocco wants the 2030 World Cup final « whether people like it or not »

The 2030 World Cup final is no longer Spain’s to lose. Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, told Catalan newspaper Sport, in comments carried by AFP, that Morocco wants to stage the final « whether some people like it or not ». His trump card is the Grand Stade Hassan II, under construction outside Casablanca, which will hold more fans than either the Spotify Camp Nou or the Santiago Bernabéu. For England supporters already plotting a trip to the centenary tournament, the venue of the biggest match just became a three-way fight.

What Lekjaa actually said

Lekjaa said Morocco will fight to host the 2030 final and that its bid does not need anyone’s blessing. The « whether they like it or not » line has been read in Spain as a direct challenge to Madrid and Barcelona, until now seen as the only serious contenders.

The Moroccan chief also sits on the FIFA Council, so he knows how venue decisions get made. Going public is a calculated move to put Morocco’s case on the table before FIFA signs off on the detailed match schedule.

Hassan II: bigger than the Camp Nou and the Bernabéu

The Grand Stade Hassan II, in Benslimane between Casablanca and Rabat, is planned for around 115,000 seats, which would make it the largest football stadium in the world. The rebuilt Spotify Camp Nou is targeting roughly 105,000, while the Santiago Bernabéu holds around 80,000.

For FIFA, capacity means ticket revenue, hospitality and global spectacle, which is exactly why Lekjaa leads with the number. The catch is delivering the ground on time, something Spain’s two candidates will be watching closely.

Three hosts, one final

The 2030 World Cup is co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three opening matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the tournament’s centenary. There is only one final to share, and the Bernabéu, the Camp Nou and Hassan II are the three runners.

Portugal’s Estádio da Luz in Lisbon looks out of the running for the showpiece. The contest now comes down to Spanish tradition against Moroccan scale, backed by Morocco’s run to the 2022 semi-finals.

Why it matters for England fans

Morocco is a familiar name in the Premier League: Noussair Mazraoui at Manchester United, Bilal El Khannouss at Leicester and former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech have all worn the Atlas Lions shirt. A final in Casablanca would put a nation with deep English club connections at the centre of the tournament.

There is also the practical side. Casablanca is a three-and-a-half-hour flight from London, comparable to Madrid or Barcelona, but hotel prices, visa rules and the 115,000-seat capacity would all change the equation for travelling supporters if England go the distance in 2030.

FAQ