Rafael Louzán, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), declared on Monday that Spain will host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final, citing the country's proven organizational capacity while taking a pointed swipe at co-host Morocco over the chaotic scenes that marred the recent Africa Cup of Nations final. The announcement was made during a gala organized by the Madrid Sports Press Association.
Louzán stated that the final will be played on Spanish soil, adding that Spain has demonstrated its organizational capabilities at the highest level. He directly referenced the AFCON 2025 final controversy, saying that scenes witnessed during the Africa Cup of Nations damage the image of world football. The remark was widely interpreted as a strategic move to undermine Morocco's bid to host the prestigious match at its under-construction Hassan II Stadium.
The AFCON 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal on January 18 in Rabat descended into chaos, with multiple controversial incidents including a disputed penalty awarded to Morocco in the 98th minute, Senegal players walking off the pitch in protest for approximately 15 minutes, and Moroccan ball boys repeatedly attempting to confiscate goalkeeper Edouard Mendy's towels. FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the scenes unacceptable, and CAF launched an investigation into the incidents.
Louzán identified the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona as Spain's two candidate venues, both exceeding 80,000 seats. The RFEF president argued that Spain represents 55 percent of the joint World Cup project with Morocco and Portugal, making it logical for the host nation to stage the final. Morocco had been lobbying to host the match at the Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, which is designed to become the world's largest football arena with a capacity of 115,000 upon its planned completion in 2028.
However, the Spanish claim may be premature. Spanish radio network Cadena SER reported that FIFA has not yet made a decision on the final's location and will not do so before the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. According to their sources, Louzán's declaration reflects an aspiration rather than a confirmed arrangement. Real Madrid's close relationship with FIFA could play a role in the eventual decision.
The 2030 World Cup will mark the centenary of the tournament's first edition in Uruguay. The competition will be hosted across three continents, with opening commemorative matches in South America through Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay before the main tournament moves to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Portugal is expected to host one of the semi-finals in the agreed distribution of key matches.
The announcement has reignited tensions within the tri-nation bid, with Moroccan officials yet to respond publicly. The dispute over the final's venue has been simmering for months, with Louzán previously describing it as inexplicable that the match would not be held in Spain. The AFCON controversy has now given Spain a powerful argument in the ongoing diplomatic battle over world football's most coveted fixture.
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