World’s biggest football stadium being built to battle Spain’s Bernabéu for 2030 World Cup final hosting duties

Morocco is building the biggest football stadium on the planet in the hopes of landing the World Cup final.

The 2030 edition is being held across six countries in three continents, 100 years after the iconic tournament made its debut.

Populous

Real Madrid‘s renovated Santiago Bernabéu, which cost $1.91 billion, is the favorite to land the showpiece.

But there is a growing movement calling for Morocco to be given the honor.

New footage revealed The Grand Stade Hassan II taking shape in El Mansouria — around 25 miles north of Casablanca.

It will be able to fit 115,000 fans — 1,000 more than North Korea‘s Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, which has been downgraded from the 150,000 capacity that is claimed by Kim Jong Un’s dictatorship.

With a projected completion date of 2028, it will host the Moroccan national team as well as Raja CA and Wydad AC.

Populous worked on the design alongside Moroccan architects Oualalou + Choi, with a striking aluminium roof shaped like a Moussem tent to pay homage to local culture.

With a vast surrounding district featuring gardens and the capacity for 12,000 VIP and hospitality guests, it would suit FIFA to a tee.

The government is predicted to spend just $500,000 on the project, making it a bargain in a world of billion-dollar arenas.

Keen to avoid a white elephant situation, the stadium is designed to be just the starting point with a thriving sports and leisure district looking to deliver a lasting legacy.

It is a lofty goal, but Moroccan football is in a golden age on and off the field and will soon have the world’s biggest football stadium to crow about, although India’s Narendra Modi Stadium — a cricket venue — remains the largest for all sports with 132,000 fans able to pack in.

Could Donald Trump decide 2030 final host?

Spain is the long-term favorite, but Morocco’s chances have been boosted by a PR push.

Morocco’s ambassador to the United States Youssef Amrani and Football Federation president, Fouzi Lekjaa are among the figureheads and Donald Trump could be an ally.

The U.S. President has a close relationship with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and an axe to grind with Spain.

Trump, who recently endorsed Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, has been criticized by the Spanish government over his handling of Iran and Palestine.

According to Spanish news outlet Infobae, Juanma Castaño, director of El Partidazo de COPE, claimed that Trump was exerting pressure in favor of Morocco hosting the final.

There has been no confirmation from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and neither FIFA nor the White House has publicly commented on the claim, meaning there is no evidence to substantiate it.

SPA

Infantino looks set to push ahead with another expansion having already gone from 32 to 48 teams.

Some believe the move could ruin the World Cup forever, but the FIFA president has adopted a clear bigger is better mentality.

“That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino told Bluewin.

“When organizing a World Cup, it’s ​important to organize it for the whole world — not just Europe and ​South America — but effectively the entire world.

“Every nation should be ⁠allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that ​the quality of the teams is extremely high — and it’s getting higher and ​higher, all over the world.

“If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”