2030 World Cup Final: Tebas on Infantino's Re-election and Spain's Chances

The location of the 2030 World Cup final remains a subject of discussion. While Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will host the majority of the tournament, Javier Tebas believes Spain has very little chance of hosting the final if Gianni Infantino continues as FIFA president.

The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Several matches will also take place in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to commemorate the centenary of the first World Cup. However, the final's venue is still undecided.

This issue has become a point of contention recently. Last Thursday, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, stated that the final would be held in Casablanca, at the future Hassan II stadium currently under construction in Benslimane. He commented, "The province of Benslimane (in the region where the stadium is being built) will have the honor of hosting the 2030 World Cup final. Anyone aspiring to be part of the next government must develop this province."

FIFA later qualified these remarks to RMC Sport. The international governing body has not yet officially announced the final's venue, leaving the competition open among the host countries.

Tebas Directly Implicates Infantino

In this context, Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish professional football league, has directly targeted Gianni Infantino. The FIFA president, in office since 2016, is facing a difficult period following the "World Cup sale" affair, which caused friction within international football organizations. Forced to apologize, the Italian-Swiss has lost the support of several federations, including France, while retaining significant allies like Morocco.

This situation, according to Tebas, could heavily influence the awarding of the 2030 World Cup final. Speaking to several Spanish media outlets, Tebas was blunt about Infantino: "Should Spain reconsider its participation in the race for this World Cup, which has already been awarded to us, if Gianni Infantino remains FIFA president? Yes, because Infantino lacks credibility. Is a person who is called to overturn a red card during a World Cup credible? Especially when the stakes are so high for the teams? It's not credible. He has acted this way before."

Tebas suggests that Infantino's potential re-election in 2027 for a fourth term as FIFA president would severely undermine Spain's ambitions for hosting the final. "He lacks credibility, and if Infantino remains in office, Spain's chances of hosting the final are minimal... or even zero," he stated plainly.