Speculation is already under way over which stadium will host the final of the 2030 World Cup. Alongside Spain’s storied Santiago Bernabéu and Camp Nou, the name of Morocco’s under-construction Grand Hassan Stadium has now emerged strongly. No final decision has been made, but the host countries are weighing various calculations.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 World Cup. In terms of heritage, infrastructure and experience, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou were the front-runners for the final from the start. But Morocco wants to change the equation with its under-construction Hassan Stadium, which will hold 115,000 spectators. The stadium is being built in Benslimane and is due to be completed by the end of 2027. In October 2023 the country’s government said building it would cost about $500 million, or roughly 5,900 crore taka, with more than 6,000 crore taka to be spent upgrading stadiums in Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Marrakesh and Fez to FIFA standard.
Real Madrid’s big asset in the race to host the final is seen as club president Florentino Pérez, who was re-elected president in June this year and has a long, close relationship with FIFA — notably helping to overcome big European clubs’ objections to the 2025 Club World Cup, an important project for FIFA. But there is talk of a behind-the-scenes compromise: under that plan, the final could be held at the Santiago Bernabéu and one semi-final at Morocco’s Hassan Stadium, with Morocco possibly getting to host the 2029 Club World Cup in return, Brazilian outlet Globo reported. Spanish media, meanwhile, claim strong lobbying is under way to give Morocco the final, and there is talk that FIFA is surprised Spain has so far taken no firm stand to host it.
Since reaching the semi-finals for the first time at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Morocco has begun major investment in infrastructure, spending more than $1 billion on stadium development alone, and has proved its ability to host international tournaments — organising the 2023 Club World Cup, won by Real Madrid. Spain is not far behind: Real completed a costly modernisation of the Santiago Bernabéu in 2023, and the stadium’s current capacity is 84,000, while Barcelona’s Camp Nou will seat 105,000 once its renovation is finished. In July 2024 the Madrid-based outlet Marca claimed the 2030 final would be held at the Santiago Bernabéu with Portugal and Morocco’s consent, but FIFA has not yet officially announced the venue. So whether the World Cup’s most prestigious match is ultimately held in Spain or at Morocco’s new super-stadium remains to be seen.
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