Maria Tato resigned as the head of Spain’s 2030 World Cup organizing committee on Wednesday following allegations of favoritism in selecting host cities, according to reports from Spanish media.
Tato also stepped down from her position at the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after a report published by El Mundo claimed that the selection process for potential venues had been manipulated to favor Anoeta in San Sebastián over Balaídos in Vigo.
“On June 25, 2024, Balaídos was among the 11 venues in Spain, but by June 27, the list was modified,” Vigo’s mayor, Abel Caballero, complained on X this week.
Tato’s resignation adds to the ongoing turmoil within the RFEF, which has faced multiple crises in recent years.
In September 2023, former RFEF president Luis Rubiales resigned after being found guilty of forcibly kissing Spain’s Women’s World Cup champion Jenni Hermoso during the team’s victory celebration in Sydney.
Spain is set to host 11 venues for the 2030 World Cup, including Barcelona’s newly rebuilt Camp Nou and Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu. Co-hosts Portugal will have three venues, while Morocco will have six.