2030 World Cup final: FIFA visits Camp Nou, Feijóo threatens Spain’s exit, Morocco responds
A FIFA delegation visited Camp Nou as part of its assessment of 2030 World Cup stadiums and the final's venue is still undecided, while Moroccan parties responded to Feijóo's threat that Spain could withdraw if Morocco gets the final.
A FIFA delegation visited Camp Nou in Barcelona on Monday 9 November 2026 as part of its assessment of candidate stadiums for the 2030 World Cup, while the venue for the final remains undecided. The same day, Morocco’s Popular Movement party and the secretary general of the Moroccan Union for Democracy responded to remarks by Spain’s opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who said he would push for Spain to withdraw from hosting the tournament if the final were awarded to Morocco.
What we know so far
- A FIFA delegation visited Camp Nou on Monday 9 November, with the tour continuing on Tuesday at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium, according to Goal and Morocco World News.
- FIFA has not named the venue for the final and says an official decision will come “in due course”, according to The Independent via Yahoo.
- The venues in contention for the final are Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabéu in Spain, and the Hassan II Stadium, still under construction in Benslimane near Casablanca, with a capacity of around 115,000, per Goal.
- Feijóo told the programme El Chiringuito that Spain should leave the organisation if Morocco hosts the final, according to The Independent via Yahoo.
- The General Secretariat of the Popular Movement issued a statement dated 9 November rejecting this stance, according to the party’s website.
- Spain’s general election takes place on 29 November, according to Reuters.
FIFA’s visit to Camp Nou
The delegation was joined by representatives of the Spanish federation, public institutions and Barcelona officials led by club president Joan Laporta, according to Goal. Renovation work on the stadium has not yet been completed, per Goal, while Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni described it as “renovated”, according to Morocco World News.
Inspectors assess infrastructure, hotels, hospitals, transport and communications, as well as the secondary stadiums that would serve as team training centres, per Goal.
The programme of visits runs through November and December. The Portugal leg (Lisbon and Porto) ended on 6 November, and the Moroccan leg covers Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Marrakech, Agadir and Fez, according to Morocco World News.
What did Feijóo say?
The Independent reported that the leader of the opposition Partido Popular told El Chiringuito that Spain should leave the organisation if Morocco hosts the final. Asked directly whether he would call for withdrawal, he answered “Yes”, according to Goal. In a post on X he wrote that the final “belongs to Spain”.
According to Goal, his argument rests on Spain and Portugal being the original hosts, with Morocco joining later, and on Spain currently being world champion in both the men’s and women’s game. The sources do not give the date of the interview, but it had been reported by 6 November.
Morocco’s response
The General Secretariat of the Popular Movement said in its statement that it was surprised by the remarks, which it said harm the spirit of sporting partnership, and that competing to host the final is a legitimate right of every host country, decided by FIFA on objective, technical and organisational criteria. It stressed that Morocco is a full partner alongside Spain and Portugal, not a secondary one, described linking participation in the organisation to the location of the final as electoral grandstanding, and called for mutual respect between the two countries.
Ilham Belfhili, secretary general of the Moroccan Union for Democracy, said that a Spanish withdrawal, should it happen, would concern Spain alone, and that Morocco is capable of hosting the tournament successfully even if Spain and Portugal both withdrew. She criticised the mixing of sport and politics, according to Goal.
Who decides the venue for the final?
FIFA alone, according to Goal, which has said its decisions on cities and matches will come as the selection process advances. Reports differ on timing: some said December 2026, others that it would not be before 2027 or 2028. FIFA has announced no date, so we do not rely on one.
The tournament is co-hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, marks the centenary of the World Cup, and its three opening matches will be played in South America, according to The Independent via Yahoo.
The election context
The latest Reuters-reported polls show the Partido Popular ahead of the Socialists before the 29 November election, but needing the far-right Vox party to secure a majority, according to Reuters via The Star. Feijóo leads the opposition, not the government.
The sources we reviewed reported no official reaction to his remarks from the Spanish government, the Spanish federation or Portugal.
JDWELKORA analysis
Editorial reading, not a confirmed fact.
Feijóo’s statement is an electoral position from an opposition leader, not a government decision, but it shows how much symbolic weight the final carries in political and media calculations. FIFA’s published criteria are mostly technical: infrastructure, transport, accommodation and operational readiness. Because the Hassan II Stadium is still under construction, its readiness and construction timetable are likely to weigh heavily in FIFA’s assessment, while Spain offers two existing stadiums. The current information is not enough to predict a decision.
FAQ
Who decides the venue of the 2030 World Cup final?
FIFA alone, and it has not announced a decision date.
Which stadiums are in contention to host the final?
Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabéu in Spain, and the Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane near Casablanca in Morocco, which is still under construction.
What did Feijóo say?
He said Spain should leave the organisation if the final is awarded to Morocco, and answered “Yes” when asked whether he would call for withdrawal.
How did Morocco respond?
The Popular Movement rejected the stance, saying Morocco is a full partner and that FIFA decides, and Ilham Belfhili said Morocco can host even if Spain and Portugal withdrew.
When did FIFA visit Camp Nou?
On Monday 9 November 2026.
When is the Spanish election?
29 November 2026.
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