FIFA continues Spain stadium inspections ahead of 2030 World Cup host decision

FIFA’s assessment tour of the cities bidding to stage matches at the 2030 World Cup has moved to Zaragoza, with visits to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu and Metropolitano stadiums scheduled to follow.

The delegation inspected redevelopment work at La Romareda on Wednesday. The project is experiencing some delays, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, but there is confidence it will be completed by the deadline set by FIFA in 2029.

The final list of host cities is expected to be confirmed in the second quarter of 2027. A decision will not be announced before the FIFA presidential election, which is scheduled for 18 March.

The delegation will now travel to Madrid, where it will be received by Rafael Louzan, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Louzan chose to remain in the Spanish capital to host the FIFA officials rather than travel to Prague.

FIFA is due to visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday before inspecting the Metropolitano on Friday.

The Santiago Bernabeu is one of the leading candidates to host the 2030 World Cup final. It faces competition from Camp Nou in Barcelona, which was visited by the FIFA delegation earlier this week, and Hassan II Stadium, which is still under construction near Casablanca in Morocco.

FIFA officials are expected to visit Morocco before the end of this month. They have already completed inspections of the three stadiums included in Portugal’s bid. Portugal, Spain and Morocco are jointly hosting the tournament.

The current programme is focused on the nine Spanish stadiums included in the hosting proposal. The number was reduced after Malaga and La Coruna withdrew from the race.

However, Valencia and Vigo’s absence from the latest inspection tour does not mean either city has been ruled out. FIFA is expected to visit both in the coming period, potentially before the end of this year, as they continue to seek places on the final list of host cities.