Where will the 2030 World Cup final be played? Morocco vs Spain, and what it means for your plans
Morocco's football chief says the final will be in Benslimane. Spain's says it will be in Spain. FIFA says it will decide "in due course". Here is what is actually known, and how to plan around a final with no venue yet.
Published 21 October 2026 · By the World to Morocco editorial team
Nobody knows yet. FIFA has not chosen a venue for the 2030 World Cup final and says only that it will decide "in due course". Morocco is pushing for the 115,000-seat Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, near Casablanca. Spain wants the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid or the rebuilt Camp Nou in Barcelona. Spanish media report the decision will not come before 2028.
In September, Morocco's football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa told a political rally: "The city of Benslimane will host the World Cup final." Within a day, FIFA had answered through a spokesperson that no decision had been made. Spain's federation, meanwhile, has been saying the opposite since January.
For fans planning a trip, the noise matters less than one practical question: should you plan around a final you can't yet locate? Short answer: plan around the group stage and keep the final flexible. Here is why.
What FIFA has actually said
Very little, and that is the point. When Lekjaa made his claim on 10 September 2026, a FIFA spokesperson replied that "as communicated on 5 August 2026, a decision will be made by FIFA in due course." No date, no shortlist, no criteria published.
FIFA has also denied reports that the final was promised to Morocco in exchange for support in FIFA's presidential election next March. Any article telling you the final "has been awarded" to one country is, as of today, wrong.
What is settled: Morocco, Spain and Portugal co-host the tournament in June and July 2030, and Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay each stage one opening match to mark the centenary of the first World Cup in 1930. Our World Cup 2030 guide covers the full format.
The three stadiums in the running
| Stadium | City | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Stade Hassan II | Benslimane, between Casablanca and Rabat | ≈115,000 (planned) | Under construction; completion reported for late 2027 or 2028 |
| Camp Nou | Barcelona | ≈105,000 (after renovation) | Being rebuilt; already inspected by FIFA |
| Santiago Bernabéu | Madrid | ≈78,000 | Open; redevelopment completed for about €1.5 billion |
Completion dates for the Grand Stade Hassan II differ between sources: Spanish daily El Confidencial reports the end of 2027, while Reuters has reported late 2028. Neither date comes from an official FIFA timetable.
Morocco's case: size and history
Morocco's argument rests on two things. The first is the stadium itself. At about 115,000 seats, including roughly 9,000 VIP places, the Grand Stade Hassan II is designed to be the largest football stadium in the world, backed by around €1 billion of public money plus motorway and rail links to Casablanca and Rabat.
The second is geography. Europe has staged eleven World Cups and their finals; Africa has staged one, ending in Johannesburg in 2010. Federation presidents from Senegal, Burkina Faso and the Comoros have publicly backed a final in Africa. In July, The Athletic reported that Benslimane had become a serious challenger to Madrid, quoting a Spanish industry source: "Eighteen months ago, it was impossible for Bernabéu to lose the 2030 final."
Spain's case: proven venues
Spain's federation president Rafael Louzán said in January that "the final of that World Cup will be held here", without naming a stadium. In September he went further: "Spain, as world champion both in men's and women's football, must host the final", while admitting it had never been made "totally clear" where the match would be played.
The Bernabéu is the safe choice: it hosted the 1982 World Cup final and several Champions League finals, and it is finished. The Camp Nou would be bigger but is still being rebuilt. Spain's weakness is that it has two candidates, and its two biggest clubs both want the match.
When will we know?
FIFA has not given a date. Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo, citing people familiar with the process, reports that the venue will not be announced before 2028. That would fit the precedent: FIFA confirmed the 2026 final venue in February 2024, about two years before the tournament.
A 2028 decision would also give Morocco time to finish its stadium, which FIFA would need to see completed and tested before handing it the biggest match in football.
What it means for your travel plans
Final tickets will be the hardest to get and the most expensive of the tournament, whichever country wins the venue. For most fans, the realistic plan is to build a trip around group-stage and knockout matches in Morocco, which are certain to happen in six cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Fes, Marrakech and Agadir.
- Don't pay anything non-refundable for "final week" accommodation in Casablanca, Madrid or Barcelona until FIFA names the venue.
- If you want to stay near Benslimane, look at Casablanca and Rabat. Both are big cities with hotels, trains and airports, while Benslimane itself is a small town. Our where to stay guide compares areas.
- Planning a long stay around the tournament? Our rent comparison for the six host cities shows what a flat costs.
- Thinking of following your team across borders? The Morocco, Spain and Portugal itinerary works whichever country gets the final.
- Register for ticket news early: our tickets guide explains how FIFA sales worked for recent tournaments.
Our take
The Bernabéu is the safer choice on paper because it already exists. But the momentum of the past year has been with Morocco: a stadium built specifically for this match, strong African backing and an argument about fairness that is hard to dismiss. The likeliest outcome is a long wait. Until FIFA speaks, treat any announcement from a federation as a negotiating position, not a fact.
Sources
- Al Jazeera (Reuters/AP): FIFA rebukes Morocco's claim it will host 2030 World Cup final (11 September 2026)
- ESPN: FIFA says 2030 World Cup final host decision to be made "in due course" (10 September 2026)
- Al Jazeera: Spanish football president declares Spain will host 2030 World Cup final (27 January 2026)
- Morocco World News: Hassan II Stadium emerging as best venue for 2030 final (22 July 2026, citing The Athletic)
- Maroc Mail: Morocco claims the 2030 final for Casablanca (14 October 2026, citing El Confidencial)
- Football Ground Guide: When FIFA will decide the 2030 final venue (3 October 2026, citing Mundo Deportivo)
Situation as of 21 October 2026. We will update this article when FIFA announces the venue.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the 2030 World Cup final be played?
It has not been decided. FIFA says it will choose "in due course". The candidates are the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, near Casablanca, the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and the Camp Nou in Barcelona.
When will FIFA announce the 2030 final venue?
FIFA has not given a date. Spanish media report it will not be before 2028, which would match the 2026 tournament, whose final venue was confirmed in February 2024.
What is the biggest stadium at the 2030 World Cup?
The Grand Stade Hassan II near Casablanca, planned at about 115,000 seats, which would make it the largest football stadium in the world.
Has Morocco been given the 2030 World Cup final?
No. Morocco's federation president said the final would be in Benslimane, but FIFA responded that no decision has been made.