FIFA begins inspection tour across Spain, Portugal and Morocco ahead of 2030 World Cup

A delegation from FIFA has commenced an important inspection tour across Spain, Portugal and Morocco as preparations intensify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the centenary edition of football’s biggest tournament.

The two-week tour began on March 9 and will run across the three host nations ahead of the official announcement of the tournament’s host stadiums, which is expected in December 2026.

The inspection exercise is being carried out in close collaboration with the respective national football federations and focuses on evaluating stadium infrastructure, logistical arrangements and the overall organizational readiness of the proposed host cities.

The delegation started its visits in Spain, inspecting key venues in Barcelona and Madrid before moving on to Portugal. The final phase of the mission will take place in Morocco, where officials will assess six candidate host cities and their respective stadium facilities.

Among the venues to be inspected in Morocco is the Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, which is currently under construction and is considered a potential host for the World Cup final.

Other facilities under review include the Complexe Moulay Abdellah in Rabat and the Grand Stade de Tanger in Tangier, which is undergoing expansion. Existing stadiums in Marrakech, Agadir and Fès are also being upgraded to meet FIFA’s standards.

During the inspections, officials will assess several key factors, including stadium safety, VIP and hospitality areas, media facilities, transportation networks and accommodation capacity for teams and fans.

Morocco has intensified preparations in several strategic areas as it positions itself strongly for the tournament. The country has implemented an integrated security framework that includes the use of facial recognition systems, drones and a specialised judicial structure designed to handle large-scale sporting events.

Work is also progressing on the Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, which is expected to become the largest stadium in the world with a planned capacity of 115,000 seats.

To coordinate the various development projects linked to the tournament, Morocco has established the Morocco 2030 Foundation to oversee governance and ensure efficient execution of the country’s World Cup plans.

The inspection tour comes at a time when competition is intensifying between Morocco and Spain over the hosting rights for the World Cup final. Reports suggest that FIFA officials were particularly impressed by the progress of the Camp Nou redevelopment project, highlighting the importance of stadium readiness in the final decision.

The current inspection is considered a crucial step in the selection process as FIFA evaluates the readiness of each candidate city. Morocco’s ongoing stadium developments, strong security planning and coordinated governance structure place the country in a strong position to host several key matches during the tournament, including potentially the final.

The findings from the two-week mission will contribute to FIFA’s final decisions on the tournament venues, which are expected to be confirmed in December 2026.