FIFA has officially clarified that no final decision has been made regarding the venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup final.
Co-hosts Morocco, Spain, and Portugal have actively campaigned to host the marquee fixture, with Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu and the proposed 115,000-seat Grand Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, positioned as the primary candidates
The governing body’s clarification comes after public comments by Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), who claimed during a political rally in Rabat that Morocco had secured the final for the Benslimane venue. ExecutiveBranch
“The city of Benslimane will host the World Cup final. Hate it or love it, and if anyone wants to talk on top of that, let them talk,” Lekjaa stated. “The city is Benslimane, the Hassan II stadium is the stadium, and I hope that Morocco will be playing in it.”
Lekjaa’s remarks triggered immediate reactions in Spain, where football figures advocated for the Santiago Bernabéu. Former Real Madrid manager José Mourinho publicly endorsed the Spanish venue as the logical choice for the tournament climax.
“If you can play in a legendary, historic stadium, where some of the greatest players in history have played, the stadium of the most important club in the history of football, then I think it should be here,” Mourinho stated regarding the Bernabéu.
Responding to the debate, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed that formal selection procedures remain ongoing.
“As communicated on 5 August 2026, a decision will be made by FIFA in due course,” a FIFA spokesperson stated, dismissing reports that agreements had been finalized ahead of the governing body’s official ratifications.