World Cup
Camp Nou Leak Raises Questions as Morocco Leads 2030 World Cup Final-Host Race
By Kunle Solaja, who was in Morocco
As the race to host the final match of the 2030 FIFA World Cup gathers momentum, Morocco is increasingly emerging as a strong and credible contender, particularly in contrast to growing concerns surrounding Spain’s stadium readiness.
Spain, a co-host of the historic centenary World Cup alongside Morocco and Portugal, has come under intense scrutiny in recent days after viral videos showed rainwater leaking inside Barcelona’s iconic Camp Nou stadium during renovation works.
The images, widely shared across social media platforms, have sparked global debate about Spain’s preparedness to stage football’s biggest match.
While Spanish authorities have sought to reassure fans that the Camp Nou project will be completed to the highest standards, the footage has inevitably raised questions at a sensitive time, as FIFA weighs technical readiness, infrastructure delivery and long-term guarantees in deciding the venue for the tournament’s showpiece final.
In contrast, Morocco has quietly but consistently strengthened its case, positioning itself as the co-host with the most advanced and purpose-built stadium infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup final.
Under extreme weather conditions, especially rainfall, no match was halted, even for a minute, as the pitches and stadiums were all in excellent condition.
The Kingdom’s investments in modern football venues, transport networks and hospitality facilities have drawn international admiration, reinforced by the seamless organisation of recent continental and global sporting events.
Morocco’s flagship projects, including the ongoing development of the proposed 115,000-capacity Stade Hassan II near Casablanca and the modernisation of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, are designed to meet and exceed FIFA’s strict requirements for hosting a World Cup final. The scale, ambition and clarity of these projects have placed Morocco firmly at the centre of discussions for the tournament’s climax.
Beyond infrastructure, Morocco’s growing reputation as a reliable host has been built on the successful delivery of major competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA-affiliated tournaments, often praised for operational efficiency, security, fan experience and cultural inclusivity.
Football analysts note that while Spain’s football heritage remains unquestioned, infrastructure concerns—especially around timelines and stadium upgrades—could influence FIFA’s ultimate decision. Morocco, on the other hand, is being viewed as a co-host that is not only planning ahead but also delivering with visible progress.
As the 2030 World Cup approaches, the contest to host the final is shaping up to be more than symbolic. It is becoming a measure of readiness, reliability and vision. For Morocco, the combination of advanced stadium projects, proven organisational capacity and strong governmental backing is steadily strengthening its claim to stage the most-watched match in world football.
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World Cup
Tragedy in World Cup host country as armed attackers kill 11 in Mexico’s Salamanca Stadium
A group of armed attackers killed 11 people and injured 12 at a soccer sports field after a match in the Mexican city of Salamanca, its mayor, Cesar Prieto, said on Facebook on Sunday, but a motive was not immediately clear.
A woman and a child were among those injured in the “regrettable and cowardly” attack in the Loma de Flores community during a social gathering, Prieto added, describing the incident as a severe social breakdown.
According to Salamanca Mayor, the gunmen arrived at the end of the soccer match. Image: Xinhua/Xinhua/picture alliance
“This incident adds to a wave of violence that we are sadly experiencing in the state, and particularly in Salamanca,” he added. “Unfortunately, criminal groups are trying to subjugate the authorities, which they will not achieve.”
An investigation has been launched into the attack, said the office of the attorney general in the state of Guanajuato, where Salamanca is located.
The office was coordinating efforts with municipal, state and federal authorities to strengthen security in the area, protect its people and find the likely perpetrators, it added in a statement.
“Those responsible will be found,” Prieto added in his Facebook remarks.
-Reuters
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A German Football Association (DFB) official has said it is time to consider a boycott of the 2026 World Cup in the wake of United States President Donald Trump’s actions.
The US will host the world football’s showpiece event this summer, along with Canada and Mexico.
President Trump caused outrage among European leaders earlier this month by threatening to acquire Greenland, which is controlled by Denmark.
The 79-year-old threatened to impose tariffs on eight European countries – including Germany – who opposed his plan.
Trump has since rowed back on that threat, but tensions between European leaders and the US government remain high.
“I really wonder when the time will be to think and talk about this [a boycott] concretely,” Oke Gottlich, a DFB vice-president, told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper.
“For me, that time has definitely come.”
Of the 104 matches at this summer’s World Cup, 78 will be held in the US.
The French government said it is not currently in favour of a boycott, while the Danish Football Association said it is “aware of the current sensitive situation”.
Denmark will aim to qualify for the tournament via play-offs.
In making his argument, Gottlich referenced a US-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.
“What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s?” said Gottlich, who is also the president of Bundesliga club St Pauli.
“By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”
Germany were involved in a row with Fifa at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when world football’s governing body threatened players with a booking for wearing the OneLove armband during games.
The captains of seven European nations were set to wear the armband to promote diversity and inclusion.
Instead, Fifa brought forward its own ‘No Discrimination’ campaign, which had been due to start from the quarter-finals, and captains were permitted to wear a No Discrimination armband for the duration of the tournament.
Germany players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their World Cup opener against Japan “to convey the message that FIFA is silencing” teams, said the country’s then-manager Hansi Flick.
“Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position,” said DFB at the time.
Gottlich added: “Qatar was too political for everyone and now we’re completely apolitical? That’s something that really, really, really bothers me.
“As organisations and society, we’re forgetting how to set taboos and boundaries, and how to defend values.
“Taboos are an essential part of our stance. Is a taboo crossed when someone threatens? Is a taboo crossed when someone attacks? When do people die?
“I would like to know from Donald Trump when he has reached his taboo, and I would like to know from [DFB president] Bernd Neuendorf and [Fifa president] Gianni Infantino.”
-BBC
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Belgium will play Tunisia in Brussels as a final warm-up fixture ahead of the World Cup finals in North America in June, the Belgian football association said on Friday.
They will host Tunisia, who are also World Cup-bound, on Saturday, June 6 at the King Baudouin Stadium before heading to the World Cup.
Belgium have Tunisia’s North African rivals Egypt in their World Cup group, as well as Iran and New Zealand and will play their three Group G matches in Seattle, Los Angeles and Vancouver.
Belgium have already arranged a friendly against Croatia on June 2 in Rijeka.
They will also play warm-up internationals against two of the World Cup’s host nations, the U.S. in Atlanta on March 28 and Mexico in Chicago on March 31.
-Reuters
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