Casablanca: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reportedly offered Morocco the opportunity to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in exchange for political backing as he battles growing opposition ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election, according to multiple media reports.
The reports emerged as Infantino travelled to Morocco for a series of meetings with FIFA officials and African football leaders following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell a stake in FIFA’s future commercial revenues. The failed plan has triggered criticism from several football associations and increased pressure on his leadership.
According to the reports, Infantino discussed the possibility of staging the 2030 World Cup final in Casablanca’s Grand Stade Hassan II, a stadium currently under construction and expected to become one of the world’s largest football venues. However, FIFA has not officially confirmed any decision regarding the final venue, and the governing body has previously stated that it is too early to determine where the final will be played.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with three centenary celebration matches scheduled to take place in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The location of the final remains one of the tournament’s biggest unresolved issues, with both Spain and Morocco hoping to stage the showpiece match.
Infantino is currently facing mounting political pressure after several European football associations withdrew their support following the abandoned commercial rights proposal. While support has weakened in parts of Europe, he continues to enjoy backing from a number of African, Asian and Oceania football associations, making their support increasingly important ahead of the FIFA presidential election in 2027.
Neither FIFA nor the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has publicly commented on the reported offer. As things stand, the claim remains unconfirmed, and FIFA has not announced any official decision on the venue for the 2030 World Cup final.