FIFA has published its report on the joint bid from Spain, Morocco, and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup.
One of the main conclusions is that Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou, alongside the Santiago Bernabeu, is competing with the Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca to host both the opening match and the final.
The global football governing body reviewed a list of up to 20 stadiums for the 2030 bid, including 11 from Spain, six from Morocco, and three from Portugal.
Spotify Camp Nou was awarded a score of 4.2 out of 5, the same as the other two stadiums, meeting the requirements to be selected at the FIFA Congress on 11 December.
The iconic Barcelona stadium, still under reconstruction, will have a capacity of 103,447 spectators, which is above the required minimum of 80,000.
This bid, which is the only one officially submitted, offers high-quality stadiums across 17 cities. The proposal combines iconic, well-established, and modernised venues from some of the world’s most renowned clubs.
Thus, the Spain, Portugal, and Morocco bid for the 2030 World Cup is the chosen one and the only candidate to host the prestigious event in less than six years.
As things stand, the Spotify Camp Nou is still under reconstruction with the stadium expected to partially reopen in early 2025 when Barcelona will return to their iconic home turf.
The full reopening of the stadium is expected to be done in 2026 and as things stand, it is one of the contenders to host the finals of the FIFA World Cup in under six years.