FIFA on Wednesday denied media reports alleging that President Gianni Infantino had promised Morocco the right to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in exchange for political support ahead of the governing body's next presidential election.
The denial came after The Times reported that Infantino had indicated he was prepared to back Morocco as host of the 2030 final if the Royal Moroccan Football Federation supported his bid for re-election. FIFA's next presidential election is scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat.
"It is false and misleading to claim the FIFA President has made any promise in relation to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 Final. A decision will be made by FIFA in due course," a FIFA spokesperson said.
The report nevertheless cited sports journalist Ben Jacobs as saying that sources within the Royal Moroccan Football Federation had confirmed discussions with Infantino regarding the venue for the tournament's final.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, while Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each stage an opening commemorative match to mark the centenary of the inaugural World Cup. FIFA has yet to announce which of the three main host nations will stage the final.
The controversy comes at a difficult time for Infantino, who has faced growing scrutiny over governance issues within FIFA.
Last month, FIFA unveiled plans to raise $4.2 billion by selling around a 20% stake in a newly created commercial entity that would manage the organization's media and commercial rights, including those linked to the FIFA World Cup. Media reports suggested the stake could be acquired by an investment fund led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The proposal sparked strong opposition across world football, prompting UEFA to announce that its member associations would boycott FIFA competitions unless the plan was withdrawn. Facing mounting pressure, Infantino later confirmed that FIFA had abandoned the proposal.
According to several media reports, the FIFA president has also come under increasing pressure from senior football officials following the controversy, fueling speculation about his political future ahead of the 2027 election.
