Spanish far-right and left unite to demand Morocco's exclusion from 2030 World Cup amid final-hosting dispute

FIFA denial and Spanish confidence

Spain's government expressed confidence that the 2030 World Cup final will be held on Spanish soil after FIFA denied a British media report that president Gianni Infantino had offered the final to co-host Morocco. Sports minister Milagros Tolón told Cadena Ser that Spain "deserved" to host the title game, citing Spain's status as reigning men's and women's World Cup champions and noting that Spain and Portugal spearheaded the bid before Morocco joined. FIFA said it was "false and misleading to claim the FIFA president has made any promise in relation to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 final" and that a decision would be made in due course. Tolón said the Spanish government was "surprised" by the report and noted that the next meeting with FIFA is scheduled for September.

“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.”

Political backlash across the spectrum

The Times report, published on Wednesday, compounded tensions already running high after a migration crisis in Ceuta on July 30 and 31, when 72,000 immigrants entered the Spanish enclave in North Africa. Spanish parties from opposite ends of the political spectrum united in calling for Morocco's exclusion from the 2030 co-hosting arrangement. The far-right Vox party filed a motion in the Congress of Deputies on Thursday demanding that the Sports Commission discuss Morocco's removal, calling the country "not a loyal partner" and citing the "extremely serious events" in Ceuta. The left-wing coalition Sumar submitted a similar proposal on Wednesday, arguing that Morocco cannot be allowed to obtain the prestige, economic benefits, and international legitimacy of hosting a World Cup while doubts remain about Rabat's role in the crisis. Podemos, also part of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's coalition, joined the call through party leader Pablo Fernández, who wrote on X that Spain should not co-organize the World Cup with a dictatorship like Morocco. Portugal's Livre party also called for the Iberian neighbors to host without Morocco.

“The very serious events that took place in Ceuta on July 30 and 31 have completely shattered the foundations of trust and cooperation on which a shared candidacy necessarily rests.”

Stadiums and competing bids

Morocco hopes to host the final at the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, which Moroccan authorities say will be the largest football stadium in the world. Spain has at least two candidate venues: Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu and Barcelona's Camp Nou. The Madrid region's presidential councillor Miguel Ángel García Martín claimed Madrid as the "best venue" for the final, pointing to the Santiago Bernabéu and the Metropolitano as suitable stadiums. According to LaSexta, Infantino had made an official commitment to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that the final would be held at the Santiago Bernabéu, and RFEF president Rafael Louzán stated in January that Spain would lead the World Cup and host the final.

Rubiales claims and FIFA politics

Former RFEF president Luis Rubiales, who led the federation from 2018 to 2023 and was banned by FIFA for three years over the non-consensual kiss to Jenni Hermoso at the 2023 Women's World Cup, told MARCA that he had a plan for the final to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu. Rubiales claimed the bid began in 2018 when Spain and Portugal realized UEFA's 55 votes would be insufficient and needed Morocco's support. He accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of ruining the plan after a meeting with Infantino, saying Sánchez conceded in exchange for taking the credit and agreed to add Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina to the bid, something Rubiales said had always been rejected. LaSexta reported that pressures from Donald Trump and the upcoming FIFA elections in March 2027 could influence the decision, with Infantino seeking to gather support amid criticism of his management, including his attempt to privatize the World Cup.