The tournament will be staged across Spain, Portugal and Morocco, but has reportedly not selected the venue for the final. That uncertainty grew after Fouzi Lekjaa, president of Morocco’s football federation, indicated that the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane could host the match.
The report says a source rejected any suggestion that Morocco had already secured the final. For now, the governing body’s position is that the choice will be made at the appropriate time.
That leaves room for all three hosts to make their case - and for the venue to become one of the tournament’s biggest political and sporting talking points.
Speaking before Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano, Mourinho insisted that his personal wish should not be confused with an objective assessment.
“There is a difference between where the game should be played and where I would like it to be played,” Mourinho said in Portuguese: “Há uma diferença entre onde o jogo deve ser realizado e onde eu gostaria que ele fosse realizado”.
His answer was rooted in football history. Mourinho reportedly argued that if the final can be staged in a legendary stadium with a deep connection to the game’s greatest players, that should influence the choice. He added that he would hold the same view even if he were managing Benfica rather than Real Madrid.
Lisbon would offer tradition and a strong Portuguese identity, while Morocco’s case would represent the tournament’s expanding reach and the promise of a new landmark venue. Spain, meanwhile, will also expect its football heritage and infrastructure to remain central to the conversation.
The next major storyline will be ’s eventual announcement. Until then, Mourinho’s preference has added personality to a decision that will carry sporting, cultural and political weight.