Lekjaa made the announcement during an electoral event held by the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in Buznika, on the outskirts of Rabat. "Benslimane province will have the honor of hosting the 2030 World Cup final," he told those in attendance. The Moroccan official was even more emphatic afterward, saying that Benslimane would host the final "like it or not." In addition to serving as president of the Moroccan federation, Lekjaa is a minister delegate in charge of the Budget.
FIFA PUSHES BACK ON MOROCCO'S ANNOUNCEMENT
The confidence shown by Morocco contrasts with FIFA's official position, as the governing body has denied that a venue has already been selected. A FIFA spokesperson reiterated that the decision on where the final will be played has not yet been made and will be taken in due course. FIFA already had to issue a statement in August denying reports that its president, Gianni Infantino, had promised the match to Morocco.
The race therefore remains open, with Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu and the future Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, emerging as the two leading contenders. Spain has not given up on hosting the decisive match either. Rafael Louzan, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, said last June that the federation would work to bring the final to Spanish territory.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the three main hosts of the 2030 World Cup, while Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will each stage one match as part of celebrations marking the tournament's centenary.
