Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of Spain’s opposition Popular Party, has stated that Spain should withdraw from hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco if the final match is not awarded to his country.
Feijóo, whose party is leading in opinion polls ahead of a snap general election on November 29th, made the declaration during an interview with the Spanish television programme El Chiringuito on Thursday.
“The final of the World Cup must be held where it is fair, where it is appropriate, where it is beyond question: in Spain,” Feijóo said.
When pressed on whether he would advocate for Spain’s withdrawal if Morocco were chosen to host the final, he replied, “Yes. The answer is yes.” The following day, he reiterated his stance on social media platform X, writing, “You do not humiliate international football’s leading power.”
Host Nations Compete for Final Venue
The three host nations—Spain, Portugal, and Morocco—are currently vying to stage the final match of the 2030 tournament. Two venues are seen as the leading contenders: Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, home to Real Madrid, and a planned 115,000-seat stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, Morocco. The selection process remains unresolved, with FIFA stating that no decision has yet been made on the final’s location.
The dispute has been intensified by recent diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco. These frictions escalated in July following a mass migration event in which tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta. Feijóo has accused Morocco of orchestrating what he termed an “invasion,” and has pledged to adopt a more confrontational stance towards the country if he becomes prime minister.
Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa announced in September that the showpiece match would take place in Morocco “whether some people like it or it.”
Spain's opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has called for the country to withdraw from co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Morocco and Portugal if Spain is not awarded the tournament's final. Speaking on Spanish TV programme El Chiringuito, Feijóo insisted that the final… pic.twitter.com/8BgwCfST9j
Political Stakes in Spain
The political dimension of the World Cup hosting debate is significant in Spain. The Popular Party, ahead of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists in recent polls, may require the support of the far-right Vox party to form a government after the November 29th election.
Vox has been vocal in its calls for a tougher approach towards Morocco, accusing the country of threatening Spanish sovereignty and employing migration as a political tool.
The outcome of Spain’s general election is likely to influence the nation’s position on the 2030 World Cup hosting bid. The main conservative Popular Party is currently leading Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists in opinion polls with an early general election set for November 29th, though it might have to secure backing from the far-right Vox party to establish a government.
FIFA has not yet announced a timeline for its final decision on the 2030 World Cup final venue.
More on World Cup
Spain shouldn’t co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup if Morocco gets to stage the final, said Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the conservative People’s Party leader and favorite to become the next Spanish prime minister after this month’s snap election. https://t.co/8VuA22GOs5
Feijoo says Spain should withdraw as host if World Cup final goes to Morocco https://t.co/CSUX9x2P1S
