Spain Dismisses Ceuta Crisis Impact on 2030 World Cup Final Debate

Rabat – Spain's Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sport, Milagros Tolón, has rejected suggestions that the migration crisis in Ceuta could affect the decision over the venue of the 2030 FIFA World Cup final. Speaking to Spanish public broadcaster TVE, Tolón said she does not believe the situation in Ceuta will influence FIFA's decision on where to stage the tournament's showpiece match. 'Who decides is FIFA,' Tolón said, stressing that the Spanish Ministry of Sport is working with all parties involved in the 2030 World Cup to deliver what she described as the best edition of the tournament. She also pointed to Spain's football success and sporting infrastructure as reasons for her confidence in the country's chances. 'We have just won the World Cup, we are a country where football is Spain's brand throughout the world, we have the best facilities and infrastructure, so the most normal thing is that the final is in Spain,' she said. Madrid or Barcelona? Tolón is not sure yet Although Tolón expressed confidence that the final will be played in Spain, she did not identify which Spanish stadium should host the match. Asked whether the final should take place in Madrid or Barcelona, the minister replied: 'In Madrid or Barcelona? In Spain.' Her comments leave Spain's preferred venue unclear, with the Santiago Bernabéu and Spotify Camp Nou among the stadiums that could potentially enter the discussion. The uncertainty comes as the question of the 2030 World Cup final continues to attract attention in both Spain and Morocco. Spanish Football Federation president Rafael Louzán has also publicly backed Spain's chances of hosting the final. His recent visit to Ceuta, during a period of heightened tensions linked to migration, has added a political dimension to a debate that Spain's sports minister now insists should remain separate from football. Tolón reiterated that the events in Ceuta should not affect Spain's World Cup bid, saying that 'sport is sport.' Morocco's high-standard stadium While Spain remains confident about hosting the final, Morocco has continued to develop a major alternative through the planned Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane. The stadium is expected to have a capacity of around 115,000 spectators, potentially making it one of the largest football venues in the world. Its planned scale would give Morocco a stadium specifically capable of competing for the tournament's biggest matches, including the final. Morocco's proposal also stands out at a time when Spain has yet to publicly settle on a single venue for the match, with Tolón declining to choose between Madrid and Barcelona. Read Also: Stade Hassan II: Inside Morocco's Vision for Future World's Biggest Football Venue FIFA holds the final say The venue for the 2030 World Cup final has not been officially decided. FIFA will ultimately make the choice, with factors such as stadium capacity, infrastructure, security, transport links, logistics and hotel capacity expected to form part of the assessment. Tolón said she was confident that the final would be played in Spain, but her comments do not represent an official FIFA decision. The contest therefore remains open, with Spain relying on its established football infrastructure and existing stadiums, while Morocco continues to advance the Grand Stade Hassan II project as a potential venue for the tournament's most prestigious match. The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, making it the first FIFA World Cup to be staged across the three countries. Tags: 2030 World CupCeuta