Who leads the race to host the 2030 World Cup final

January 29, 2026 Oliver Obel

Spain should host the final of the men’s 2030 World Cup, according to the president of the country’s football federation, despite Fifa having yet to decide where the tournament’s showpiece match will be staged.

Rafael Louzan’s remarks add to uncertainty surrounding the climax of a World Cup that will span three continents, a format chosen to mark the competition’s 100th anniversary.

The tournament will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will stage the opening three matches in recognition of the inaugural 1930 World Cup, which was held and won by Uruguay. The BBC reported those arrangements were agreed as part of Fifa’s centenary plan.

Competing ambitions

Morocco has openly lobbied to host the final, positioning the proposed Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca a planned 115,000-seat venue due for completion in 2028 as a flagship stadium for the event. Last year, Moroccan football federation president Faouzi Lekjaa said he hoped the arena could stage a final against Spain.

Louzan, however, suggested Spain should take precedence.

“Spain has proven its organisational capacity over many years,” Louzan said at an event in Madrid organised by the city’s sports press association. “It will be the leader of the 2030 World Cup and the final of that World Cup will be held here.”

He did not name a venue, though Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Barcelona’s Nou Camp are widely viewed within Spanish football as the strongest candidates.

Fifa yet to decide

World football’s governing body has so far declined to confirm where the final will be played. The BBC said it had contacted Fifa, as well as the Portuguese and Moroccan football federations, for comment.

Fifa previously cautioned against early conclusions, noting last year that the venue for the 2026 World Cup final was only announced two years before that tournament, underlining that decisions for 2030 remain some distance away.

Afcon controversy raised

In his remarks, Louzan also referenced disorder at the recent Africa Cup of Nations final, which Morocco had promoted as a test of its readiness to host major global events.

The match in Rabat was delayed after Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led his team off the pitch following a disputed penalty decision, while supporters attempted to enter the field. Play eventually resumed after a lengthy stoppage.

While praising Morocco’s investment in new stadiums, Louzan said the scenes had been damaging.

“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 Africa Cup of Nations, we have seen scenes that damage the image of world football.”

A complex World Cup

Spain has proposed 11 stadiums for the tournament, with Morocco expected to use six and Portugal three, according to the BBC. The opening fixtures in South America are intended to honour the origins of the World Cup and the location of Conmebol, South America’s football confederation, which is based in Paraguay.

With hosting duties spread across continents and competing bids for the final still unresolved, the location of football’s most-watched match remains a point of contention and one Fifa is unlikely to settle soon.

Sources: BBC, Fifa