Spanish PM candidate threatens 2030 World Cup withdrawal
Spain's PP leader threatens to pull his country out of organising the 2030 World Cup if Morocco hosts the final, a scenario the Spanish football federation rules out.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of Spain's People's Party (PP) and the party's candidate for prime minister, has threatened to withdraw Spain from jointly organising the 2030 World Cup if Morocco is granted the honour of hosting the final, remarks that triggered wide political and sporting controversy, according to Alyaoum24.
Citing Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, the outlet reported that Feijóo links Spain's continued involvement in organising the World Cup to being awarded the right to host the final, suggesting Spain could decide to pull out of the joint organisation with Morocco and Portugal if it does not secure that honour.
The stance comes amid escalating political and sporting debate in Spain over which country will host the 2030 final, as the issue has entered the campaign ahead of legislative elections due on November 29.
Spanish federation chief rules out any withdrawal
Rafael Louzán, president of Spain's Royal Football Federation (RFEF), had previously ruled out any possibility of Spain withdrawing from the organisation if Morocco were granted the final, stressing that Spain is bound by agreements signed with FIFA and the co-hosting countries.
Three stadiums in the running to host the final
Competition between Morocco and Spain over hosting the final continues, with the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane put forward alongside the Santiago Bernabéu and Camp Nou stadiums among the leading candidates, pending FIFA's official decision. Fouzi Lekjaa had previously announced that the final would be held at the Hassan II stadium in Benslimane, a statement that drew an immediate reaction from Louzán himself, while FIFA has yet to make its final decision.
Spain, Morocco and Portugal are jointly hosting the 2030 edition of the World Cup, the first to be staged across two shores of the Mediterranean and two continents, while the final carries major symbolic and economic weight for whichever country hosts it.