WHILE football fever is gripping North America, concern is mounting elsewhere over a growing struggle that has broken out between the co-hosts of the next World Cup, set to be held in four years’ time.
According to reports, a row is simmering between Spain and Morocco over who will host the final of the next tournament in 2030 – despite Madrid claiming at the start of the year that a decision had already been made.
Under FIFA plans, the 2030 World Cup will feature a game apiece in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to mark the centenary, with the remaining matches shared between Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
In January, the president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) appeared confident that Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu would play host to the final showpiece.
“Spain has proven its organisational capacity over many years,” said Rafael Louzan at an event in the Spanish capital.
“It will be the leader of the 2030 World Cup and the final of that World Cup will be held here.”
But it appears Louzan’s confidence may be misplaced, with well-placed FIFA insiders telling The Times that it is currently 50-50 whether the final will be played at the Bernabeu, or at a sprawling new arena in Morocco.
Officials in the northern African country are understood to be pushing hard to hold football’s biggest game at the 115,000-capacity Hassan II stadium in Casablanca which, once built, will be the largest football stadium in the world.
To try and sweeten the deal, Morocco’s football federation has become one of the most fervent supporters of current FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The country will also host next year’s FIFA Congress where Infantino is likely to run for his fourth term as president.
Previously, Louzan swatted aside suggestions that Morocco could hold the final, making reference to the controversy that marred last year’s African Cup of Nations final.
“Morocco is really undergoing a transformation in every sense with magnificent stadiums,” he said.
“We must recognise what has been done well. But in the African Cup of Nations, we have seen scenes that damage the image of world football.”
Last year, three people were killed by police in Morocco after protests against involvement in the World Cup turned violent.
Protesters are angry that money is being funneled into investment projects related to the tournament, rather than struggling, underfunded infrastructure such as hospitals or schools.
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