"Camp Nou" emerges as frontrunner to host World Cup final – FIFA to conduct inspection to decide fate of the final
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
Next week, a FIFA technical delegation will kick off an extensive inspection tour across cities in Spain and Portugal vying to host matches for the 2030 World Cup.
Details: According to Diario SPORT, one of the key stops will be a visit to Barcelona, scheduled for March 9. Inspectors plan to personally assess the progress of renovations at the “Spotify Camp Nou,” which, upon completion, will become the largest stadium in Europe and the main rival to Madrid’s “Santiago Bernabéu” in the race to host the tournament’s final match.
It is reported that construction at the venue is in full swing: the third tier of stands is being actively erected and façade panels are being installed. The club’s immediate goal is to obtain permission to use part of the stadium, which would allow the current capacity to increase to 62,000 spectators. However, full realization of the project—with a final capacity of 105,000 and the installation of a massive 48,000 m² roof—will require more time.
In addition to Barcelona, inspectors will visit other cities: on March 10, they’ll head to Zaragoza, and on March 11 they’ll arrive in Madrid to inspect the already revamped “Santiago Bernabéu” and the “Riyadh Air Metropolitano.” The FIFA itinerary also includes Las Palmas, Seville, Bilbao, and San Sebastián. The final list of host stadiums will be approved in December 2026.
Reminder: The Spanish national team may withdraw from the 2026 World Cup due to a conflict with Donald Trump.
