Spain demand hosting duties for 2030 World Cup final after AFCON 'damage' in Morocco

Martin Macdonald

27 Jan 2026 06:22 CST
4 min read

Spain believe they should be given hosting duties for the 2030 World Cup final ahead of Portugal and Morocco.

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The 2030 World Cup will largely be held across those three countries, though additional fixtures are being held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to mark the 100th anniversary of the first tournament.

The location of the final is yet to be confirmed and it will likely not be confirmed until, at the earliest, a couple of years before the tournament.

Spain believe they are now a shoe-in to host after the chaos of the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal in Morocco, however.

The drama of the Africa Cup of Nations final continued after the final whistle, with Moroccan journalists walking out of Senegal boss Pape Thiaw’s press conference. 🫣 pic.twitter.com/rRLk2Lg2Eg
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 19, 2026

“It is true that in the final and some matches in AFCON, we have seen images that damage not only AFCON but also world football,” Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan said at the Madrid Sports Press Association.

“Spain has proven its organisational capacity over many years and will therefore be the host of the 2030 World Cup. The final of that World Cup will be held here.”

There are currently four main contenders to host the final - The Bernabeu in Madrid, Camp Nou in Barcelona, Estadio da Luz in Lisbon and Morocco’s Hassan II Stadium, currently being constructed in Casablanca to hold 115,000 spectators.

What happened in the AFCON final?

Deep into injury time in the second period, the host nation, Morocco, were awarded a controversial penalty after Brahim Diaz went down inside the box following a pull from El Hadji Malick Diouf. It was soft in the eyes of many and although the Real Madrid man went down rather easily, he was being held by the defender.

Everyone of a Senegal persuasion was outraged. The players surrounded the referee in protest and the small batch of away supporters in the corner of the stadium even had to be subdued by riot police after threatening to enter the pitch.

Senegal manager Pape Thiaw took things one step further, though, as he actually ordered his players to leave the pitch. Most of of them did so, with some even going back into the changing room.

Talisman Sadio Mane kept the peace and eventually convinced his team-mates to return and a good job he did, too, as Diaz missed the subsequent penalty with a failed Panenka before Senegal went on to win the final 1-0 after a solitary goal scored in extra-time.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the next day that every player and official involved in the walkout would be punished for their actions.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, meanwhile, said:

"We also witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands - we strongly condemn the behaviour of some supporters as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members.

"It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right.

"We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play. Teams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk."

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