Lekjaa: ‘Africa Has the Right to Host a World Cup Final for the Second Time’

Casablanca – Morocco will continue to defend its bid to host the 2030 World Cup final while presenting itself as a representative of the African continent, Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaa said in a recent interview with Jeune Afrique.

Morocco will co-host the tournament alongside Spain, and Portugal, with FIFA yet to announce which stadium will stage the final. 

Lekjaa stressed that the three hosts should not be viewed as competing against one another, describing their relationship as one based on complementarity.

“We are not three countries in a logic of rivalry, but in a logic of complementarity, at the crossroads of civilizations and cultures.”

Lekjaa, however, made it clear that Morocco intends to continue pushing for the final, which the country hopes to stage at the planned Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane.

“We will always be here to defend the rights of the Kingdom of Morocco and Africa, which, in my view, has the right to organize a World Cup final for the second time in a century.”

FIFA process remains ongoing

Lekjaa said Morocco, Spain, and Portugal have each received FIFA’s task force as part of the evaluation process for the tournament’s proposed venues.

The FIFA teams have visited the cities and infrastructure put forward by the three hosts, with Lekjaa stating that the decision will follow the established timetable.

The comments come after Lekjaa previously said that the Hassan II Stadium would host the 2030 final at a political gathering in Benslimane. FIFA subsequently said that no final venue had been decided and that the matter would be determined through the established process.=

World Cup tied to Morocco’s development plans

Beyond the final, Lekjaa described the 2030 tournament as an accelerator for Morocco’s wider infrastructure and development plans.

He said projects involving high-speed rail, highways, airports, and other transport infrastructure could see their timelines brought forward to meet the demands of the tournament.

Lekjaa also highlighted the potential economic impact on young Moroccans and Africans, arguing that the World Cup could create opportunities for training, skills development, entrepreneurship, and business growth.

“Hundreds of thousands of young Moroccans and Africans, because this World Cup is an African World Cup, will have the opportunity to train, develop their skills, and develop their companies.”

He also pointed to the tournament’s wider Mediterranean dimension, describing the event as an opportunity to strengthen links between Africa and Europe.

For Lekjaa, the Morocco-Spain-Portugal tournament represents more than a sporting event, with its three hosts positioned at the intersection of different cultures, languages, and histories.