Spain remains confident that it will host the 2030 World Cup final despite reports linking Morocco with the showpiece match.
Spanish Sports Minister Milagros Tolon said the country deserves to stage the final. She also pointed to Spain’s strong position as one of the main hosts of the tournament.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 World Cup.
“We are the reigning men’s and women’s World Cup champions, and Spain and Portugal spearheaded the bid for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco later joined,” Tolon told Cadena Ser.
“We have many advantages and strengths as a country.”
The comments came after a report claimed that Morocco had been promised the World Cup final.
Morocco wants to stage the match at the planned King Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca. The stadium is expected to hold around 115,000 fans.
Spain also has major venues in the race. Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou are among the possible choices.
FIFA has denied that any decision has been made.
A report claimed FIFA president Gianni Infantino had offered Morocco the final while seeking support for his presidency. FIFA rejected that claim.
A FIFA spokesperson called the report “false and misleading.”
The spokesperson also said Infantino had made no promise about the venue for the 2030 World Cup final.
“A decision will be made by FIFA in due course,” the spokesperson said.
Tolon said the Spanish government was surprised by the report. However, she said FIFA’s denial was the most important point.
“The most important thing is that FIFA has already denied it,” Tolon said.
Spain plans to continue talks with FIFA. The two sides are expected to meet again in September.
“We are working with FIFA, and we have our next meeting in September,” Tolon said. “They have been very clear and emphatic in denying this news.”
Spain has no plans to give up its push for the final.
“We will continue working because we want, and it has to be, that the World Cup final is in Spain,” Tolon said.
