Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Federation royale marocaine de football (FRMF), has suggested that Spain is more concerned with competing for the 2030 World Cup final than Morocco is.
The final venue has become the central dispute surrounding the tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Morocco’s proposed Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, near Casablanca, is being presented as an alternative to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu.
The stadium is currently under construction and is expected to hold 115,000 spectators, which would make it one of the largest venues in the world.
With FIFA yet to make its decision, the Moroccan and Spanish camps have exchanged a series of pointed comments and announcements over the past several months. Lekjaa renewed that rivalry in an interview with Jeune Afrique.
When the interviewer referred to the debate as “very contested” and asked where the final would be played, Lekjaa rejected the idea that Morocco was engaged in a battle with Spain.
His response implied that it was the Spanish side which was trapped in that competitive mindset, while Morocco was approaching the issue in a spirit of cooperation.
Morocco’s principal objective, however, remains clear: to stage a second World Cup final in Africa, after South Africa hosted the tournament’s showpiece match in 2010.
Lekjaa’s latest comments underline his continuing confidence in Morocco’s proposal. They also reflect his view that the Spanish side lacks composure because of the possibility of losing the contest over the final venue.
His remarks were nevertheless more cautious than those he made several days earlier at a meeting organised by the Parti Authenticite et Modernite in Bouznika.
On that occasion, Lekjaa appeared to state directly that the final would be held in Morocco, while also criticising the Madrid press for presenting Spain as the favourite.
“Every day, I hear Marca’s chatter... The final will be in Benslimane, at the Hassan II stadium,” he said.
“What you need to know is that Hassan II stadium in the province of Benslimane is where the final of the 2030 World Cup will take place.”
The comments were also directed at reports from Marca, which has been backing Spain in the contest to host the match.
Morocco is therefore continuing to promote the Grand Stade Hassan II as its preferred venue, while Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu remains the Spanish alternative. The final decision rests with FIFA.