Infantino’s reported offer to Morocco
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reportedly offered Morocco the opportunity to host the final of the 2030 World Cup. This offer comes as he seeks support ahead of a critical executive meeting. Reports suggest that the proposal is contingent on Morocco publicly endorsing Infantino, who is facing increasing pressure regarding his leadership.
The 2030 World Cup is planned to be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with the initial three matches scheduled in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to commemorate the tournament’s centenary. The final is currently expected to be held at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. However, sources indicate Infantino has promised that the final could be staged at the 115,000-seat Hassan II stadium, which is under construction in Casablanca, Morocco.
This reported offer to Morocco follows a period of significant scrutiny for Infantino. Senior FIFA figures were called to a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday. This meeting was convened after FIFA‘s chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger, Jordanian Football Association president Prince Ali, and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom voiced concerns about a controversial scheme proposed by Infantino.
Controversial scheme and mounting pressure
Infantino’s plan involved offering payments of $40 million to member associations if they supported the sale of a 20% stake in future tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, to external investors. This was to be achieved through the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a subsidiary valued at $20 billion. Critics viewed this idea as a threat to FIFA‘s non-profit model, potentially commercializing the World Cup and prioritizing shareholders over the sport itself.
The proposed scheme faced immediate pushback, with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announcing that its member nations would not participate in any World Cup if the plan proceeded. Similar statements were made by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). UEFA described Infantino’s proposal as a “shabby, back room, opaque deal” lacking transparency and stated that the current FIFA leadership had lost its confidence, as well as that of many other football family members.
The English Football Association also backed UEFA‘s position, calling for a “robust review” of FIFA‘s leadership and governance to ensure transparency and benefit all 211 member nations. FIFA‘s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, stated that FIFA‘s administration had been “deceived” regarding the proposal, referring to it as a “one-person” scheme. Infantino’s adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned, describing the idea as a “bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”
Reactions and future outlook
In response to the widespread opposition, Infantino announced that the proposal had “created divisions” that were “no longer in the interest” of the concept, and consequently, the plan would not proceed. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa expressed satisfaction that the proposal had been withdrawn, emphasizing that the future of global football should be shaped through proper consultation and collective dialogue.
Real Madrid also welcomed FIFA‘s decision to abandon the original proposal, stating that it was good news for football, its governing bodies, and fans. The club expressed gratitude to UEFA, confederations, federations, and other institutions that opposed the proposal, acknowledging their unity in protecting football.
The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027 in Morocco. A potential fourth and final term for Infantino is at stake. The reported offer to Morocco for the 2030 World Cup final is seen by some as an attempt to secure support ahead of this election, particularly as Saudi Arabia, typically a strong supporter, has not yet endorsed him.
Despite the current discussions, Spanish Football Association president Rafael Louzán has maintained his belief that Spain will be the leader of the 2030 World Cup and that the final will be held there. He reiterated this summer that he has no doubt about Spain hosting the grand final of the Centenary World Cup.
The executive meeting in Rabat includes senior FIFA board members such as finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, and media relations director Bryan Swanson, alongside Mattias Grafstrom.
Source: tntsports.co.uk