Friction arises as Spain and Morocco vie for 2030 World Cup final hosting rights
Posted : 06 October 2023
A day after Morocco, Spain, and Portugal were named as joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, signs of disagreement emerged regarding the venue for the final match. Spain's Sports Minister, Miquel Iceta, expressed his expectation that the final would be held in Spain, although he acknowledged the need to wait for official decisions.
In contrast, Fouzi Lekjaa, the head of Morocco's football federation, expressed the hope that the final would take place in Casablanca, emphasizing the country's efforts to make this historic event a reality.
Argentina also entered the conversation, with government officials and the local football federation expressing their desire to host more games than the single opening match originally allocated to them. This unexpected announcement by FIFA came a year earlier than planned and included Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay hosting matches to commemorate the tournament's centenary.
It's worth noting that Spain and Morocco have a history of disputes, particularly regarding migration and territory issues. Nevertheless, relations improved in recent times, partially due to Madrid aligning more closely with Morocco's stance on the Western Sahara dispute.
Despite these initial disagreements, the three host nations plan to meet in Rabat on October 18 to discuss the scheduling of World Cup matches, with Morocco set to provide six cities as match venues.
ADD A COMMENT :
Hot Topics
User name is required Email Id is required Comment is required
ADD A COMMENT :