A major FIFA delegation is currently in Spain conducting inspections of the stadiums expected to be part of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The decision regarding the host venue for the final of the upcoming tournament will begin to take shape next week, with Barcelona and Real Madrid paying close attention.
FIFA will be visiting the cities of Madrid and Barcelona next week. A delegation from world football's governing body will travel to both cities to begin assessing their potential bids to host the World Cup final. In recent weeks, several visits have already taken place at other venues expected to play a major role during the summer of 2030.
It is worth remembering that both the Santiago Bernabéu and Spotify Camp Nou have undergone renovation projects in recent years, with the aim of becoming the stadium for the centenary World Cup final. The tournament will take place in the summer of 2030 and commemorate the first edition of the FIFA World Cup, held in 1930. Clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona would love to have the honor of hosting this historic event at their respective fields.
FIFA will be visiting the most important cities included in Spain's bid. The delegation will assess not only the sporting venues but also several other key factors, including transport systems, hotel capacity, and access to the various stadiums that will host matches during the tournament. Neither Madrid nor Barcelona considers itself a clear favorite to host the final, particularly given that Morocco is expected to be a formidable competitor.
One of the biggest concerns for the Spanish FA is the construction of the future Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca. The field is expected to have a capacity of more than 115,000 spectators and forms part of a broader development plan involving renovations in other cities, such as Tangier, Fez, and Marrakech. Next week, FIFA will begin assessing these factors as it moves closer to announcing the eventual host venue for the final.
The governing body of international football will also visit the stadiums of Atlético Madrid and Espanyol Barcelona. These are two additional venues that the cities will provide for World Cup matches during a tournament that will be historic in every sense. The competition will be played across three continents, with the opening matches scheduled to take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
Spain hopes the final can be held within its borders. The country is not only the cornerstone of the joint bid but also the party that formally invited Morocco to participate in the project several years ago. Ukraine was also part of the proposal at one point.
Next week, with FIFA's visits to the Bernabéu and Camp Nou, the process of determining the eventual home of what promises to be the most special World Cup final of all time will begin to take shape.