FIFA president Gianni Infantino is reportedly considering moving the 2030 World Cup final to Morocco's Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca, according to The Times. This comes despite Spain's insistence that the showpiece event will be held on their soil.
Morocco's bid for the final
The embattled FIFA president is alleged to have pledged the African nation the right to stage the finale of football's most coveted competition in four years' time in return for their support. Morocco has been one of Infantino's most steadfast allies since his appointment in 2016.
The nation has been campaigning for the final to be held at the brand-new Hassan II Stadium, which will become the world's largest football stadium when construction is complete, featuring 115,000 seats.
Spain's expectations
Spain were widely expected to host the final at Real Madrid's Bernabeu. However, Infantino's proposal would secure the new venue as the host for the showpiece match, contradicting Spanish FA president Rafael Louzan's declaration earlier this year that Spain "will be the leader of the 2030 World Cup and the final of that World Cup will be here."
Infantino's political troubles
The development comes as Infantino convened a meeting in Rabat on Wednesday with senior FIFA officials in a bid to salvage his presidency, following intense criticism over controversial proposals to sell stakes in the World Cup. These proposals, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise, were met with outrage from numerous officials, particularly in Europe, with UEFA threatening to completely boycott the tournament if they were implemented.
The plans were eventually abandoned last Friday, but calls for Infantino's resignation have not let up.
UEFA's strong opposition
UEFA released a statement following the announcement: "As a result of today's discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership."
"Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination. There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments."
"Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale."
In response, Infantino issued his own statement: "The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed."
"And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders. Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place."
"Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed. Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support."
