Morocco, Spain and Portugal will jointly host the 2030 tournament and are already vying to secure the final, with Spain’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and a proposed 115,000-capacity venue in Benslimane, near Casablanca, emerging as the leading contenders.
Lekjaa had on Wednesday declared that Benslimane would host the final, insisting that the decision was settled despite opposition from some quarters.
However, FIFA said the venue had not been determined.
“As communicated on 5 August 2026, a decision will be made by FIFA in due course,” a FIFA spokesperson said on Friday.
The uncertainty has generated reactions in Spain, with Real Madrid coach José Mourinho throwing his support behind the Santiago Bernabéu as the preferred venue for the final.
Mourinho, speaking to reporters on Friday, said the historic Madrid stadium would be an appropriate setting for the tournament’s most important match because of its significance to world football.
The Portuguese coach acknowledged that he would personally prefer the final to be staged in Lisbon but argued that the Bernabéu’s history and association with some of football’s greatest players made it a strong candidate.
The race for the 2030 World Cup final venue is therefore expected to continue until FIFA formally announces its decision.
