Rabat: The joint bid submitted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain to host the 2030 World Cup is the only proposal in contention and has been hailed as a ‘very strong all-round proposition’ by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The bid not only meets but exceeds the ‘minimum hosting requirements’ according to FIFA’s technical evaluation report.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the bid is set to be presented to the FIFA Council and FIFA Congress for consideration. The technical evaluation highlights the comprehensive nature of the bid, assessing the proposed sporting and general infrastructure alongside its commercial viability.

The bid features a diverse selection of high-quality venues spread across 17 host cities. These include existing, iconic facilities and modernisation projects, which are either new constructions or upgrades. Such initiatives demonstrate strong legacy use cases, ensuring long-term benefits beyond the tournament.

The collaborative bid aims to inspire and
unite through football, fostering a sense of camaraderie that transcends geographical boundaries and further strengthens ties between Africa and Europe. Despite the extensive construction plans anticipated over six years, the report notes existing mitigating factors, such as ongoing projects in Morocco, particularly in preparation for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025.

In the technical evaluation, the Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid earned an impressive average score of 4.2 out of 5, while the Argentina-Paraguay-Uruguay bid scored 3.6 out of 5. The proposal offers a choice of 20 stadiums, exceeding the minimum requirement of 14, thus providing flexibility for selecting diverse and iconic venues across the three nations.

Among these stadiums, one will be a new build, and several will undergo significant renovations. The report confirms that all stadiums are adequately equipped to host World Cup matches. Notably, five of Morocco’s six proposed stadiums are also set to host the CAN-2025 matches, with the Grand Sta
de Hassan II in Casablanca poised to become the world’s largest football stadium.

Highlighting the grandeur of the bid, the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Camp Nou in Barcelona, and Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca are proposed as venues for the tournament’s opening match and final.