Where Should the 2030 World Cup Final Be Held? Mourinho Picks Madrid

The race to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final has already begun, with Spain and Morocco emerging as the main contenders. The centenary edition of the World Cup will be hosted primarily by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will each stage one match.

The biggest debate, however, is over where the final should be played, with Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu and Morocco’s proposed King Hassan II Stadium among the leading options.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was asked about the issue during a press conference in Madrid on Friday.

Asked where he would like to watch the World Cup final, Mourinho initially responded with a smile: “I want it to be in Lisbon.”

As a Portuguese, Mourinho’s preference for Lisbon may not come as a surprise. But he then offered a more serious answer about where he believes the final should actually be held.

“Where the final should be and where I would like to see it are two different things,” Mourinho said.

Speaking from what he described as a neutral perspective rather than as Real Madrid’s coach, he added that the final should be played in Madrid if the opportunity exists to use such a historic stadium.

“If you have the opportunity to play in such a historic stadium, where the greatest players in the history of the world have played, then the final should be in Madrid,” Mourinho said.

He also insisted that his opinion was not influenced by his position at Real Madrid.

“I would say the same if I were Benfica’s coach,” Mourinho added.

Madrid vs Morocco for the World Cup Final

The majority of the 2030 World Cup matches will be played in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. As part of the tournament’s centenary celebrations, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will also host one match each.

The main battle for the final, however, appears to be between Spain and Morocco.

Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu had been considered one of the strongest candidates for the final. The historic stadium has recently undergone a major modernization project costing around $1 billion, further strengthening its case to host the tournament’s biggest match.

Morocco, meanwhile, has unveiled plans for an enormous new stadium near Casablanca. The proposed King Hassan II Stadium is expected to have a capacity of around 115,000 spectators.

If completed, the stadium would become one of the largest football venues in the world and give Morocco a major argument in its bid to host the World Cup final.

Morocco Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has recently claimed that the 2030 World Cup final will be played in Morocco. His comments have reportedly sparked strong reactions in Spain.

The final venue has yet to be decided, but the contest between Madrid’s historic Bernabeu and Morocco’s ambitious new stadium is already shaping up as one of the major stories surrounding the 2030 World Cup.

Mourinho’s personal preference is clear: his heart may belong to Lisbon, but when it comes to the ideal venue for the World Cup final, he believes Madrid should get the honour.