Fouzi Lekjaa called on “all institutions” and “all Moroccans” to mobilize for hosting the 2030 World Cup final at the future Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, though FIFA says no decision has been made and an announcement is expected “in due course.”
The statement came during a communication meeting of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), where Lekjaa urged the mobilization of “all institutions” and “all Moroccans” in support of the bid. He specifically pointed to Benslimane, a province near Casablanca, saying it “will have the honor” of hosting the match.
Central to Morocco’s campaign is the future Grand Stade Hassan II, planned for Benslimane, which officials present as the venue best suited for the tournament’s biggest game. The stadium remains under construction, and its selection would require formal FIFA approval before becoming official.
A FIFA spokesperson reiterated that the announcement would come “in due course,” a position confirmed after Lekjaa’s public remarks. No date has been given for when the final venue will be revealed.
Three inaugural matches are also scheduled in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the tournament’s centenary. The overall distribution of host cities has not been finalized, and the final’s location remains separate from the general country designations.
Spain is also competing to host the final, with Madrid among the options under consideration, creating a diplomatic and sporting rivalry between the Moroccan and Spanish bids. Portugal, while part of the organizing framework, has not been publicly linked to the final.
Lekjaa’s remarks, made during an electoral period in Morocco, drew reactions both in Spain and from FIFA. Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has called for coordination with Spain and Portugal before any unilateral promises are made regarding the final.
Lekjaa has since emphasized respect for FIFA procedures, noting that a FIFA task force has visited proposed cities and infrastructure. The Moroccan national team itself has been captained over the years by figures who became icons of Morocco on and off the pitch, adding symbolic weight to the country’s World Cup ambitions. The final decision rests entirely with FIFA.
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