In Spain, controversy over the location of the 2030 World Cup finale is making headlines again. A Spanish media outlet, close to right-wing parties, accuses the French president of «maneuvering so that the finale of the 2030 World Cup takes place in Morocco and not in Spain». «Emmanuel Macron, who is influential in international football, wants the finale to be played in Morocco and has already started to put pressure on FIFA leaders (with whom he has very good relations) for that sake», El Debate reads. To defend Morocco's cause, Macron is sparing no effort to reach his objective: «Spain has already hosted the World Cup finale (1982)» and «Morocco has been preparing for several years to host a World Cup, bidding for it in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2026», says the same source. The French government «considers that the African continent deserves a new grand finale because it would be a recognition of the evolution of football in North Africa and the Maghreb», underlines El Debate. «This maneuver by Macron (…) is known to the Spanish government», affirms the Iberian media. «In Spain, everyone is working hand in hand, from the government to the Spanish Federation so that the finale is played in our country». For the record, the project for the large Casablanca stadium, the construction cost of which is estimated at around 500 million euros, has already made headlines in Spain in October. «Morocco is scary: a stadium for 113,000 spectators to host the 2030 World Cup finale», wrote the sports daily Marca. «Morocco wants to host the finale of the 2030 World Cup: The Grand Stade Africain in Casablanca», noted 20 minutos. «Morocco presents the megaproject that threatens the Bernabéu for hosting the finale of the 2030 World Cup», announced Sport. For its part, the Spanish government also partook in the controversy. «The World Cup finale will of course take place in Spain, although I do not know if it will be in Madrid or Barcelona», Víctor Francos, president of the Superior Sports Council told media. «I understand that Morocco wants to host the finale in Casablanca, but it will be in Spain», he proudly claimed. The host of the 2030 World Cup finale has not yet been decided by the organizers and FIFA. The Football Federations of Morocco, Portugal and Spain officially signed, Wednesday, November 29, the bid agreement to host the 2030 World Cup.
