2030 World Cup: Gianni Infantino’s New Proposal Has Half the World Up in Arms

Morocco could host the 2030 World Cup final. According to a report in the British newspaper The Times, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is reportedly backing Casablanca’s bid, where the new Hassan II Stadium is under construction and is set to become the world’s largest soccer stadium with a capacity of approximately 115,000 seats.

This development comes at a particularly delicate time for FIFA’s top official. Ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for March 2027, Infantino is reportedly facing a gradual decline in support, with some federations said to have expressed growing dissatisfaction with his leadership.

According to The Times, support for Morocco would also carry significant political weight. Rabat is, in fact, considered one of Infantino’s most important allies and will host the next FIFA Congress, during which the vote for the organization’s presidency will take place. In this scenario, the support of the Moroccan federation could prove decisive.

However, the potential awarding of the final to Casablanca would represent a setback for Spain, which was hoping to host the tournament’s final match at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Thanks to its record-breaking capacity, the new Hassan II Stadium has emerged in recent weeks as Morocco’s leading candidate to host the World Cup final, even though FIFA has not yet officially announced the venue.

On the domestic front, Infantino is also going through a difficult period. The FIFA president has been at the center of criticism over the now-withdrawn proposal to sell a share of future World Cup revenues to private investors. The initiative had sparked strong opposition within international soccer, contributing to doubts about his re-election prospects and paving the way for potential candidacies from other presidential contenders.

After a recent meeting in Rabat, Infantino left FIFA headquarters without stopping to answer questions from reporters. At this time, the organization’s president has not issued any statements regarding the rumors surrounding the 2030 World Cup final or his position ahead of the upcoming elections.