Gianni Infantino has reportedly offered Morocco the right to host the 2030 World Cup final in return for the country publicly backing him as pressure grows over his future as FIFA president.
According to The Times, Infantino, who is currently in Morocco, promised that the kingdom could stage the tournament’s showpiece match at the new Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca. The reported condition is that Morocco declares its support for him amid increasing calls for him to leave office.
Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Three opening matches will also be played in South America as part of celebrations marking the centenary of the first World Cup.
The North African country wants the final to be held at the Hassan II Stadium, which is planned to have a capacity of 115,000. Once completed, it is expected to become the largest football stadium in the world.
The Santiago Bernabeu is regarded as the leading alternative to host the final.
The report says Infantino is concerned that support from some of his allies is weakening. That includes Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 World Cup.
His position has also come under increased pressure in Europe following the collapse of a proposal to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights to private-sector investors.
Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association, accused Infantino of blackmail on Tuesday. He said the FIFA president had pressured the Jordanian federation to support his campaign to be re-elected.
Former Portugal international Luis Figo has also joined the criticism of Infantino and called for his immediate departure from FIFA.
Figo described the FIFA president’s conduct as “the lowest, most deceptive and selfish” he had witnessed in football. He added that Infantino had “disfigured the position he promised to develop, lied, deceived and sought to serve his personal interests instead of serving the game”.
Figo said the time had come to save football through Infantino’s departure.
The latest developments follow Arsene Wenger’s announcement that he would not take part in the proposed sale of FIFA’s commercial rights. FIFA’s head of global football development said he had learned about the project through the media.
Wenger said withdrawing from the initiative was “necessary and non-negotiable”. He also said he believed FIFA should be an independent organisation operating with transparency and integrity while serving the interests of world football.
His comments were viewed as a clear attempt to distance himself from the crisis currently affecting the governing body.
Morocco’s bid to host the 2030 final is centred on the scale of the planned Casablanca stadium, while the political significance of the reported offer comes as Infantino faces criticism from figures inside and outside FIFA. The country’s public position on his leadership could therefore become an important factor as the dispute over his future develops.
