Spain protests report that FIFA would award 2030 World Cup final to Morocco
Madrid reacted after a news report suggested FIFA would give the 2030 final to Morocco; FIFA has denied the claim and Spain says it will keep pushing its case.
Spain's government issued a sharp response on August 7, 2026 after a media report claimed that FIFA would award the final of the 2030 World Cup to Morocco; the global governing body quickly denied the claim. The dispute surfaced ahead of a planned meeting between Spanish officials and FIFA in September 2026.
Sports minister Milagros Tolon spoke to several outlets, arguing that Spain has strong grounds to host the tournament's deciding match. "We deserve it and we have always bet that it will be in Spain," she said.
Tolon outlined the main arguments Madrid plans to press in talks with FIFA: "First, we are world champions in both men's and women's football. Second, Spain, together with Portugal, gave the initial push for the bid to host the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco later joined. In addition, we have many advantages and strengths as a country," she said.
Government stance and no city preference named
The minister did not name a preferred host city such as Madrid or Barcelona, but was unequivocal about the government's objective: "As a government, we want the final to be in Spain. FIFA will decide, but we want it to be in our country because we deserve it."
Tolon added that the report had caused "great surprise" inside the government, especially given the upcoming FIFA meeting, and welcomed FIFA's public denial of the story. "The most important thing is that FIFA has already denied it. They were very clear and categorical in their denial of this news. We will continue to work because we want, and it should be so, that the World Cup final be in Spain," she said.
Photo: press material from the event
