Feijóo calls for Spain to quit 2030 hosting if it misses out on final
Spain’s opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo says the country should withdraw as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup if FIFA awards the final elsewhere, putting him at odds with the Spanish football federation.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo has said he would seek to withdraw Spain from organising the 2030 FIFA World Cup if the country is not chosen to stage the final. The leader of the opposition People’s Party made the remarks ahead of Spain’s November 29 general election, with Morocco also seeking to host the match.Spain, Morocco and Portugal were appointed joint hosts in December 2024. FIFA has yet to allocate the final, and Feijóo’s position contrasts with that of Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzán, who has ruled out withdrawal regardless of where the match is played.“Spain must host the World Cup final. And, if it doesn’t host it, in my opinion, Spain shouldn’t participate in organizing the World Cup,” Feijóo said, as reported by City AM. Asked whether he would take steps to withdraw Spain as a host if it missed out, he replied: “Yes, the answer is yes.”Feijóo argued that Spain’s record of staging major sporting events and its standing in international football justified awarding it the final. He reiterated his position on social media, framing the venue decision as a matter of national interest.Louzán has also made clear that he wants the final played in Spain, citing the country’s stadium infrastructure and experience of organising major events. Speaking to Spanish broadcaster COPE in September, however, he said agreements had already been signed with FIFA, the other host countries and the Spanish government. He argued that Spain should honour those commitments and acknowledged that the venue decision rests with FIFA.Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou are Spain’s leading candidates. Morocco is seeking to stage the final at the Grand Stade Hassan II, which is under construction near Casablanca and is designed to hold approximately 115,000 spectators.FIFA previously denied claims that Morocco had been privately promised the final, describing them as “false and misleading”. City AM has separately reported that Morocco is expected to serve as FIFA’s operational base for the tournament, a decision distinct from the allocation of the final.The 2030 edition will mark 100 years since the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will each stage a centenary match, with the bulk of the tournament taking place in the three principal host countries.Spain remains a confirmed co-host. Feijóo’s remarks set out what he would seek to do if Spain were denied the final; they do not change the hosting agreements already in place.