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Spanish sports minister Milagros Tolón has dismissed speculation that co-hosts Morocco could host 2030 World Cup final and insisted the match must be played in her country.
"We will continue to work on it because we want - and it has to be - that the World Cup final takes place in Spain," Tolón told Cadena Ser radio on Thursday.
"I am convinced that FIFA will chose Spain to host the final."
British paper The Times had reported that governing body FIFA's president Gianni Infantino had promised Morocco the final if the country supported his re-election in March 2027.
FIFA swiftly dismissed the report, saying that Infantino had made no such promise and that a decision on the venue for the final would be made in due course.
Tolón said that Spain carries weight as reigning men's and women's World Cup champions, has a lot of experience in hosting major sports and other events and offers good infrastructure and a safe environment. Spain hosted the World Cup in 1982.
She said the final could take place at Bernabéu stadium in Madrid or Barcelona's Camp Nou.
Morocco is building a new 115,000 seat stadium in Casablanca.
The 2030 World Cup is to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, after one match each in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina as part of the tournament's centenary celebrations.
Giving the final to Morocco would be a huge insult to Spain and Europe, which has harshly criticised Infantino in recent days over a controversial World Cup investor plan which has now been scrapped.
Continue reading...
"We will continue to work on it because we want - and it has to be - that the World Cup final takes place in Spain," Tolón told Cadena Ser radio on Thursday.
"I am convinced that FIFA will chose Spain to host the final."
British paper The Times had reported that governing body FIFA's president Gianni Infantino had promised Morocco the final if the country supported his re-election in March 2027.
FIFA swiftly dismissed the report, saying that Infantino had made no such promise and that a decision on the venue for the final would be made in due course.
Tolón said that Spain carries weight as reigning men's and women's World Cup champions, has a lot of experience in hosting major sports and other events and offers good infrastructure and a safe environment. Spain hosted the World Cup in 1982.
She said the final could take place at Bernabéu stadium in Madrid or Barcelona's Camp Nou.
Morocco is building a new 115,000 seat stadium in Casablanca.
The 2030 World Cup is to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, after one match each in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina as part of the tournament's centenary celebrations.
Giving the final to Morocco would be a huge insult to Spain and Europe, which has harshly criticised Infantino in recent days over a controversial World Cup investor plan which has now been scrapped.
Continue reading...
