Gianni Infantino’s recent visit to Morocco generated widespread international attention, driven by its timing and the critical issues surrounding the FIFA President’s relationship with the Kingdom.
During his trip to Rabat, Infantino met with King Mohammed VI and held high-level discussions with senior FIFA officials, coinciding with Morocco’s ongoing preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
The visit gained heightened significance due to the intense competition between Morocco and Spain to host the World Cup final, unfolding against the backdrop of a growing political crisis for the FIFA President following a sharp decline in European support.
Did Infantino Bargain with Morocco Over the 2030 World Cup Final?
British newspaper The Times reported that Infantino offered to back Grand Stade de Casablanca to host the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for political support from Morocco and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the upcoming FIFA presidential elections.
According to the report, the FIFA chief seeks to secure the block vote of Africa’s 54 member associations to compensate for lost backing across Europe. FIFA officially denied the existence of any secret arrangement, maintaining that the venue for the final has not been decided and will follow formal selection procedures.
These allegations emerged following an emergency meeting Infantino convened with key international football stakeholders near Rabat to address challenges threatening his leadership tenure.
UEFA Withdraws Support Ahead of 2027 FIFA Elections
The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, during the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, involving representatives from all 211 member associations.
Infantino has served as FIFA President since his initial election on February 26, 2016. Marking over a decade in office, he previously announced his candidacy for another term in what was initially viewed as an uncontested reelection path.
However, UEFA is no longer inclined to support Infantino, following a rift triggered by a proposal to introduce private equity investors into commercial revenues for the FIFA World Cup and other global competitions.
UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments unless the proposal was withdrawn. Several European federations—including England, Wales, Denmark, and Sweden—publicly declared their opposition to his continued presidency. Although Infantino ultimately abandoned the commercial venture, the political fallout weakened his position, prompting intensified efforts to consolidate support across African and Asian federations.
Morocco and Spain Battle to Host the 2030 Final
Morocco’s candidacy centers on Grand Stade Hassan II, a venue under construction near Casablanca with a planned capacity of 115,000 spectators. Spain’s bid relies primarily on Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu and Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou, with the Royal Spanish Football Federation previously assuming the final would naturally be awarded to a Spanish venue.
However, the strength of the Moroccan bid, coupled with Infantino’s strong working relationship with Moroccan officials, has heightened concerns within Spanish football circles—particularly after the FIFA President publicly praised Morocco’s infrastructure progress during his recent visit.
While Spain has no intention of withdrawing from the joint organization, Spanish officials have stepped up diplomatic efforts within UEFA and FIFA to protect their standing for the final match.
The 2030 World Cup will be primarily hosted across Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with three opening matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to mark the centenary of the inaugural 1930 tournament.
