AFCON Chaos Redraws the Map for 2030 World Cup Final Venues

AFCON Final Chaos Shifts 2030 World Cup Final Venue Talk

A controversial postfinal review of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco is sending shockwaves through the World Cup 2030 hosting race. The dispute over the candidate venues – Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu and a Casablanca stadium still under construction – has moved from the locker room to conference tables and committee rooms. The debate has also grown since national discussions about security, stadium readiness, and home-field advantage.

According to AS, the morning report by the Spanish daily, photos from the Morocco-Senegal final put Moroccan organization under intense scrutiny, even though Senegal had threatened to walk off the field. The photos included crowd scenes and officials reviewing slow-motion replays.

Scenes of chaos, attempts to storm stands, and refereeing debates painted a negative picture of Morocco's ability to stage a tournament of this scale. It also raised questions about crowd control, ticketing, and match security capacity.

AS adds that the criticisms were sharpened by unacceptable acts, including attempts by ball collectors and Moroccan players to hinder Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy by pulling his towel before a penalty, a trick used successfully in the semifinal against Nigeria. Senegal and fans argued that rules were not consistently applied.

The report also cites Senegalese allegations that three players faced food poisoning after the match, plus earlier complaints about security at Rabat's train station, limited tickets for Senegal fans, and no separate training ground away from Moroccan facilities. The piece also notes lingering concerns about transport disruption and allocations.

Despite praise for the tournament's infrastructure and crowds, AS argues the events left a stain on the Moroccan hosting file, with refereeing controversy and accusations of hosting favoritism after a Senegalese goal was ruled out minutes before a controversial penalty for Morocco. These factors could influence the final vote at FIFA headquarters.

By contrast, AS says Bernabeu is strengthening its case, leveraging its clean record hosting major finals and the backing of the Spanish Football Federation in the FIFA bid. Observers say the Bernabeu has built a pristine track record with big events, from the Champions League finals to the Olympics proposals.

While the paper says ties between Spain, Morocco, and Portugal remain stable in the joint 2030 bid, the final decision could be heavily influenced by Rabat's events, with FIFA's verdict still pending. Still, the Rabat setback reshapes diplomatic language and could nudge organizers toward a compromise.

PUNCHLINE 1: If chaos were a stadium, Rabat just built the stands bigger than Bernabeu.

PUNCHLINE 2: In football and life, the whistle sometimes reveals more drama than the goal line.