FAJAR.CO.ID, MADRID—FIFA has decided on six countries to host the 2030 World Cup. However, Spain and Morocco are at odds over who should host the final.
In a surprise announcement a year earlier than planned, FIFA allocated the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Spain and Portugal.
In addition, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will host three matches to mark the centenary of the tournament.
The day after the announcement, signs emerged of a dispute, with Spain and Morocco claiming to host the 2030 World Cup final.
Spanish Sports Minister Miquel Iceta yesterday on Onda Cero radio said he expected the final to be held in Spain.
But Fouzi Lekjaa, head of the Moroccan football federation, said the aim was for the final to take place in Casablanca.
In a statement on Radio Mars, he hoped that his country’s efforts would receive Allah’s permission with the historic final being held at the Casablanca stadium.
Meanwhile, England coach Gareth Southgate criticized the six-country format for holding the 2030 World Cup. He emphasized that it could cause problems because of possible situations such as one group against Argentina in Buenos Aires and the other two against them in Europe.
Southgate admitted his team experienced something similar at Euro 2020 with a series of matches at Wembley and Italy, but the situation was very different.
“I need to see everything set up but my understanding is three games are played in South America, then the teams have to travel around the world, change time zones again, and take on competition with home advantage in one part of the group and not the other,” Southgate said in Independent.
