Spain’s political dispute with Morocco over the 2030 World Cup final has escalated after a senior ally of Alberto Nunez Feijoo accused Morocco of trying to “steal” the match from Spain.

Feijoo, leader of the Partido Popular (PP) and a candidate in Spain’s anticipated general election, said on the Mediaset programme El Chiringuito that Spain could withdraw from hosting the tournament if he became head of government and the final was awarded to Morocco.

The comments have added to an increasingly heated contest over where the showpiece match of the tournament should be played. Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu is competing with the Grand Stade Hassan II, which is being built in Benslimane, Morocco.

The new Moroccan stadium is intended to become the largest football venue in the world, with a capacity of about 115,000. That would put it ahead of the stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, which currently holds the record with an estimated capacity of 114,000.

Feijoo’s position was backed by one of his most prominent supporters within the PP, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid. In an interview with Telecinco, Ayuso described what has been widely viewed as a threat by her party as “reasonable” and said that her political leader “could not have put it better”.

She also claimed that Morocco wanted to “steal the World Cup from them under their noses”.

The latest comments have prompted a strong reaction in Morocco, where the Spanish statements have been met with disbelief. In a column, Le360 Sport questioned the assumption behind the dispute by asking: “Since when has the 2030 World Cup belonged to Spain?”

The final decision has not yet been made by FIFA, leaving both countries competing for the right to host the tournament’s most significant fixture.

Spain, Portugal and Morocco were selected to host the 2030 World Cup, with matches also planned in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay as part of the competition’s centenary celebrations. However, the contest between Santiago Bernabeu and Grand Stade Hassan II for the final has become a source of political tension, particularly after Feijoo’s warning over Spain’s continued involvement.

For now, the dispute remains unresolved, with the arguments from both sides intensifying before FIFA makes its decision on the final venue.