August 5, Beijing time (CEST) – According to an exclusive report by The Times, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised to award Morocco the right to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in exchange for their support.

As pressure for his resignation mounts, the FIFA president is attempting to convince nations to issue statements of support.

Under mounting pressure, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised Morocco that they can host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final if they support him – but insiders say he is concerned that Saudi Arabia has yet to declare its backing.

Infantino has been holed up in Rabat, Morocco's capital, since a crisis erupted over his plan to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors.

He has attempted to persuade nations to issue statements of support, but Saudi Arabia – long one of his most steadfast allies and designated host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup – has remained surprisingly silent.

FIFA opened a luxurious new African office in Rabat last year, and today, under intense pressure to resign, Infantino convened an emergency meeting with his core staff to attempt to save his presidency.

Morocco has been one of Infantino's most loyal supporters since his election ten years ago, and he has reciprocated by awarding the North African nation co-hosting rights to the 2030 FIFA World Cup. However, Morocco has also actively lobbied to host the FIFA World Cup final at the new King Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca. The 115,000-capacity stadium, once completed, would become the world's largest football stadium.

Sources told The Times that Infantino promised the final would indeed be held there, rather than at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid – with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco jointly hosting the tournament, while three additional matches will be held in South America.

Infantino's opponents argue that any decisions he makes regarding the final are not binding and could be reversed by his successor. FIFA did not respond to a request for comment.

FIFA opened a luxurious new African office in Rabat last year.

This year, Spanish Football Federation President Rafael Louzán insisted that Spain "will lead the 2030 FIFA World Cup, and the final of this World Cup will take place here."

Infantino also selected Rabat as the venue for next year's FIFA Congress, where he hoped to be re-elected unopposed to a fourth term as president. However, he will face challenges there, as leaders from UEFA, CONCACAF, and CAF want him to resign immediately.

Meanwhile, aides still loyal to Infantino have attempted to convince "FIFA Legends" (a group of retired international players hired for FIFA events) to publicly support the FIFA president, but so far without success.

Another source told The Times: "They would like a well-known former player to come out in support of Infantino, but his reputation appears too tarnished following the plan to sell the FIFA World Cup."

King Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, has the potential to host the FIFA World Cup final once construction is completed.

The FIFA crisis has sparked widespread concern among smaller European clubs, who fear they will not receive their $250 million share (approximately £185 million) from the solidarity fund of the new FIFA Club World Cup, promised over a year ago.

More than 50 clubs have contacted the European Football Clubs Association (ECA), the representative body for European teams, expressing concern that FIFA made promises but funds have yet to be delivered.

FIFA told The Times that the $250 million allocation remains in effect and discussions regarding fund distribution are ongoing. These funds were promised to small professional clubs worldwide from revenue generated by the FIFA Club World Cup held in the United States. For smaller clubs, their share can be particularly important.

FIFA reportedly has yet to provide any explanation to the European Football Clubs Association (ECA) regarding the tournament delay. Some sources believe the delay is linked to the new club competition not being financially successful. It is believed that entry fees from participating teams, including Chelsea and Manchester City, have already been paid.

Despite FIFA's substantial cash reserves of up to $4 billion (approximately £2.9 billion), its failure to make timely payments on promised disbursements has become a pattern. The Jordanian Football Association has stated it has yet to receive its payment from last year's Arab Cup.

Its president, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, stated: "The prize money our team was supposed to receive for reaching the final has not been paid, while FIFA boasts of its billion-dollar reserves."

Переведено ИИ.

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