India, Sept. 12 -- Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has publicly rebuked the country's football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa over his claim that Morocco will host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final, warning that such a decision cannot be announced before discussions with co-hosts Spain and Portugal. The controversy erupted after Lekjaa said that the province of Benslimane, near Casablanca, would have the honour of staging the final. FIFA, however, has not yet announced the venue for the title clash, leaving the three principal host nations - Morocco, Spain and Portugal - to jostle for the showpiece game.

Akhannouch made his displeasure clear during a rally ahead of elections in Morocco later this month, accusing Lekjaa of making a...