Decisive phase in the 2030 World Cup final file: FIFA delegation evaluates the Bernabeu before visiting Morocco

According to the newspaper "AS", FIFA continued their tour of the cities bidding to host the 2030 World Cup on Wednesday, stopping in Zaragoza.

The international federation's technical staff inspected progress at the La Romareda stadium. The project is running slightly behind schedule, but it should be finished by FIFA's 2029 deadline.

FIFA will confirm the final selection of host cities in the second quarter of 2027.

The federation's elections fall on 18 March 2027 in Morocco, and no decision is expected before then.

After Zaragoza, the delegation head to Madrid, where Rafael Louzán, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, will receive them. Louzán knows the World Cup preparations have reached a crucial stage. That is why he skipped the trip to Prague, where Spain face the Czech Republic, choosing instead to host the FIFA delegation.

 The next test lands in the capital, at its two stadiums. The Santiago Bernabéu hosts the delegation on Thursday, and the Metropolitano the following day.

2030 final

The Santiago Bernabéu ranks among the most important stadiums bidding to stage the awaited final, locked in a battle with Morocco to host it. Spain have two options in this race. The Camp Nou, which officials visited a few days ago, also meets the conditions. Morocco counter with the Hassan II stadium, still under construction near Casablanca. FIFA officials will visit Morocco before the end of this month, having already toured the three stadiums in Portugal, the other host nation.

Attention falls on Spain for now, and the organisers stress how much this visit matters to the World Cup planning process.

 The trip takes in the stadiums listed in the bid file Spain submitted, meaning the nine that remain after Malaga and La Coruña withdrew.

 That does not rule out Valencia and Vigo, though. Both cities are also in the running, and FIFA will visit them soon, perhaps before the year is out.

Major developments in the thorny file

The fight between Morocco and Spain for the honour of staging the 2030 World Cup final has intensified, with the latest moves from both camps pointing to big developments ahead.

Morocco, Spain and Portugal will share the 2030 World Cup, yet a fierce battle rages over who hosts the final.

Morocco's Hassan II stadium stands out among the contenders, with a planned capacity of around 115,000. That would make it the largest football stadium in the world when it opens, expected in 2029.

Spain, meanwhile, are banking on their wealth of huge grounds, chief among them the Santiago Bernabéu and the Camp Nou.

FIFA said last September that they would settle on the final's venue "in due course", adding that this November they had begun visiting the candidate cities in Spain, Portugal and Morocco to assess their suitability to host matches.

Written byAbobakr El Mokadem

Senior Editor

An Egyptian journalist since 2006. I initially specialized in covering local football, but over the years my interest expanded to global football, particularly the top five European leagues, with a special focus on La Liga and the Premier League.

Throughout these years, I combined field reporting with analytical work, and I became deeply involved in international football starting in 2017, when I joined Kooora.

At Kooora, I worked as a news editor, match analyst, translator, voice-over commentator, and video report producer, in addition to writing reports and articles, developing coverage plans for major events and key matches, and participating in their execution.

My passion for football began in 1990, during Egypt’s celebrations of qualifying for the Italy World Cup after a 56-year absence. I vividly remember the Egypt vs Netherlands match and Magdy Abdelghani’s historic equalizer.

On the global level, I became attached to Real Madrid at the start of the new millennium, following the great stars who wore its shirt, especially Zinedine Zidane, and later my favorite player Cristiano Ronaldo.

There are many unforgettable moments, but I would highlight Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Real Madrid in 2009 as the most important, as my favorite player joined the club I support in Europe.

Currently, I specialize in desk editing, translating international news and reports, proposing coverage ideas, and writing SEO-optimized content.

My all-time favorite lineup includes Gianluigi Buffon in goal; Cafu, Franz Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini, and Roberto Carlos in defense; Zinedine Zidane, Andrés Iniesta, Diego Maradona, and Pelé in midfield; and in attack Ronaldo Nazário, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Among the reports and analyses I published on Kooora:

– After Deco and Scaloni’s statements… Is Messi’s era over?

– A golden hour gives Real Madrid hope to overcome Barcelona

– Kooora Report: Unsung heroes who shaped the greatness of the Champions League

– Kooora Story: Real Madrid defeats “itself” and wins a historic title

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