Source: Politics<\/p>\n
ATLANTA \u2014 Spain\u2019s soccer chief told POLITICO he is confident that either Madrid or Barcelona will host the World Cup final in 2030, as Morocco joins the race to stage the biggest sporting event in the world.<\/p>\n
On a sun-baked afternoon in Atlanta outside La Casa de Espa\u00f1a, Rafael Louz\u00e1n \u2014 who has been in charge of the Royal Spanish Football Federation since late 2024 \u2014 said that Spain has a storied history of hosting major events and would do so again when the World Cup returns to the Iberian peninsula for the first time since 1982.<\/p>\n
Spain and Portugal will jointly host the 2030 World Cup with Morocco, and some matches will be played in South America to celebrate the centenary edition of the tournament. The first World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a deep respect for our co-host nations, and not only Morocco, also Portugal and also Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. But Spain is the nation who leads the World Cup,\u201d Louz\u00e1n said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are really confident because we have 55 percent of all matches organized for the World Cup and we have 11 cities. Morocco has six and Portugal has two or three. We have plenty of confidence that we can organize the final in Madrid or Barcelona. We have two great stadiums and we know that the world of football doesn’t hesitate about who’s going to organize the World Cup final,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have one of the greatest leagues in the world. We are one of [the] top nations in terms of championships, not only in the national team, but also in the clubs. So, we are confident,\u201d said Louz\u00e1n, speaking after being mobbed for pictures by ecstatic Spanish supporters.<\/p>\n
A senior Moroccan soccer official confirmed to POLITICO in Boston that his federation was keen to host the 2030 final, and that the country had the infrastructure to do so. Morocco has spent billions of dollars on new arenas, highlighted by the Hassan II Stadium that is under construction near Casablanca and designed to hold 115,000 spectators.<\/p>\n
Soccer officials expect a decision on the showpiece match from FIFA within the next few months and a political lobbying battle to intensify ahead of the governing body\u2019s verdict.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpain has a great capacity to host major events, not only sporting events. We recently hosted the pope\u2019s visit, [and the 2022] NATO congress in Spain,\u201d Louz\u00e1n said. \u201cI think that Spain has achieved a great capacity for organizing major events and we are confident that we can organize the best World Cup ever in Spain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Louz\u00e1n sat next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday, as Spain thrashed Saudi Arabia in Atlanta\u2019s Mercedes-Benz stadium. He told POLITICO that he didn\u2019t discuss 2030 with the global soccer chief, just the success \u2014 so far \u2014 of the 2026 edition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re having a great time here in the U.S. and Mexico,\u201d Louz\u00e1n said. \u201cI spoke with Gianni Infantino and congratulated him for the organization of this World Cup. We are really thankful for the hospitality here in Atlanta and in Chattanooga, which is our base camp.\u201d<\/p>\n