Ilham Belfhili, Secretary General of the Moroccan Union for Democracy party, responded to Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Spain's opposition leader and leader of the People's Party. Morocco, Spain and Portugal will jointly stage the 2030 World Cup, with the dispute focused on which country will host the final.
Feijóo's withdrawal proposal
Feijóo said he was ready to push Spain to withdraw from hosting the 2030 World Cup if FIFA awards Morocco the right to host the final. Spain's general elections are set for 29 November.
Belfhili's response to the Spanish right
Speaking in special statements to the Moroccan newspaper Hespress, Belfhili said: “the Spanish right's orientations towards Morocco's issues are not a thing of the moment, but rather extend back to the events of Ceuta and Melilla in summer 2026, as this current seeks to politicise the files and look for any opening to harm the Kingdom”
She also said: “the Spanish right's exploitation of the World Cup's promises to win voters' votes is an isolated electoral manoeuvre that does not concern Morocco”
The final and a possible withdrawal
Belfhili said hosting the 2030 final is a sporting matter governed by FIFA's standards and specialised committees, rather than partisan bidding. She said that if FIFA assigns the final to the Grand Stadium in Benslimane and Spain withdraws, “then that is a matter concerning it alone and changes nothing about the reality”
She said: “Morocco possesses the means and readiness to host the World Cup successfully even if Portugal and Spain withdraw together”
Sport and politics
Belfhili rejected “mixing sport with politics” and called football “a universal humanitarian message that brings peoples closer together”. She also said Morocco “is a state of institutions that respects the decisions of international bodies whatever they may be”
