While the focus is now on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off on 11 June, excitement is already building around the 2030 edition of the tournament.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is expected to be the longest ever, lasting slightly over six weeks. With that, suggestions on the venue that will host the final match, a hundred years later, have become a major talking point.
Will the Spanish Football Federation have its way, having recently fronted Santiago Bernabeu as the preferred stadium for the showdown? Or will it be Morocco's new stadium that takes all the glory for what is expected to be a memorable tournament?
This post will keep you updated on what is happening around the 2030 FIFA World Cup, especially the venue that will host the final match.
When will the 2030 World Cup be played?
FIFA have announced the dates for the 2030 World Cup. The opening match will be played on Saturday, 8 June 2030, and the final will take place just over six weeks later, on Sunday, 21 July 2030.
The playing dates have been announced before those of the 2026 tournament, which is expected to last between 38 and 40 days; therefore, the 2030 World Cup is expected to be the longest ever.
While it will be winter in South America, summer temperatures of over 40℃ are expected in Morocco and southern Spain, causing further concern for players and fans alike.
How will the six-country 2030 World Cup work?
Players and fans will not need to travel back and forth across the Atlantic, which is a relief. However, for those romantics hoping that the entire Centenary tournament would take place in South America, there is some unfortunate news: the three CONMEBOL members will only be hosting one match each.
Over the weekend of 8 and 9 June, three “Centenary Celebratory games” will take place, one each in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, as FIFA “celebrates 100 years since the first FIFA World Cup”.
After that, the tournament up sticks and lands on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar. The official opening ceremony takes place on Thursday, 13 June; from then on, the tournament will be played in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Is it anticipated to follow the same schedule as the 2026 edition, with 48 teams split into 12 groups of four before the knockout rounds?
What are the 2030 World Cup stadiums?
Although there has been no official confirmation regarding the stadiums for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, 20 venues have been proposed for consideration. Notably, it seems that the choice of three stadiums to host matches in South America is nearly decided, as only one stadium has been submitted for each participating country so far.
Let's break it down further per country.
South America 2030 World Cup stadiums
They are the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, which hosted the 1930 World Cup final; the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, home of River Plate and host of the 1978 final; and the proposed Estadio CONMEBOL—a brand new 60,000-capacity stadium in Luque, on the outskirts of Paraguay’s capital, Asunción.
According to FIFA regulations, a stadium of 80,000 or more must be used for the opening match, but one cannot rule out the 60,000-seater Estadio Centenario being used for the first match.
Main 2030 World Cup stadiums
As for Spain, Portugal and Morocco, a further 24 stadiums in 21 cities have been put forward.
Portugal 2030 World Cup stadiums
Portugal has three potential venues: two in Lisbon—the Estadio da Luz and Estadio Jose Alvalade—and the Estadio do Dragao in Porto. All of these were newly built or renovated ahead of UEFA Euro 2004.
Morocco 2030 World Cup stadiums
Six stadiums in six host cities could potentially be used in Morocco, one of which is to be newly built. The Grand Stade de Casablanca in Casablanca is due to be completed in 2028 and will be the new home of the Moroccan national team.
The upcoming Grand Stade Hassan II, located in Benslimane, just 40 kilometres north of Casablanca, has been renamed in honour of the late King Hassan II of Morocco. Designed by renowned French architect Jacques Herzog, this new stadium boasts a capacity of 115,000 spectators.
Herzog is well-known for his work on other significant venues, including the Beijing National Stadium, Allianz Arena, St. Jakobs-Park in Basel, Switzerland, and Matmut Atlantique, among others.
Key features of the Grand Stade Hassan II include 29,500 general admission seats on either side of the stadium and an additional 12,000 hospitality seats designated for box patrons, VIPs, and VVIPs.
Five other stadiums, in Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, Marrakech and Fes, are all to be renovated before the finals.
For more information, take a look at our article on Morocco’s potential venues.
Morocco is set to construct the Grand Stade Hassan II near Casablanca, a 115,000-seat stadium aiming to be the world’s largest. #football #footballgames #footballskills #worldlargeststadium #morocco #stadium #trend #trendy #trending #trendingnow pic.twitter.com/Bo07B3run9
— SUN FM (@sunfmlk) November 21, 2024
Spain 2030 World Cup stadiums
Spain has 14 potential grounds. The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and Camp Nou in Barcelona are all but guaranteed to host. Spain’s two biggest cities can also offer the Metropolitano Stadium and Estadi Cornella-El Prat.
Nou Mestalla in Valencia, La Cartuja in Seville and San Mames in Bilbao are all on the list, as are stadiums in Gijon, La Coruna, Las Palmas, Malaga, Murcia, San Sebastian, Vigo and Zaragoza.
It is unclear how many will be selected for the tournament. Although 16 venues will host matches at the 2026 World Cup, there has been little consistency with the number of stadiums used at a World Cup over the years.
Which will be the 2030 World Cup final stadium?
Like the opening match, a stadium which holds a minimum of 80,000 spectators must be used for the final.
With the Estadio Monumental out of the picture, three stadiums meet FIFA’s criteria:
- Grand Stade de Casablanca – Casablanca, Morocco – 115,000 (expected capacity)
- Camp Nou – Barcelona, Spain – 105,000 (potential capacity)
- Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – Madrid, Spain – 84,744
Despite being the country’s largest stadium, the Camp Nou has not been used as a home ground by the Spanish national team for over half a century, due to political reasons connected with Catalan independence.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation's stance on hosting matches at FC Barcelona's home stadium is unlikely to change anytime soon. As a result, they are unlikely to nominate it as the venue for the World Cup final, despite their hopes that Spain will be a contender in the tournament.
One thing that could give Camp Nou a slight glimmer of hope is the fact that it has recently undergone extensive renovation work. While the project is yet to be completed, it is expected to become the biggest and best stadium in Europe once it is.
They will instead pin their hopes on the home of Real Madrid. The 1982 World Cup final venue has also undergone extensive renovation work over the past years, giving the iconic old ground a 21st-century facelift.
According to Marca, Real Madrid have reached an agreement with FIFA for the Santiago Bernabeu to host the 2030 World Cup final.
However, despite the history and traditions of the Spanish stadiums, the Grand Stade de Casablanca in Morocco cannot be ruled out as the final venue. In October 2025, the stadium's architect said the stadium was ‘designed for the 2030 final'.
January 2026: No decision on 2030 World Cup final stadium as dispute rages on
With no decision made yet on the venue that will host the final match of the 2030 World Cup, Spain and Morocco are reportedly embroiled in a dispute over the same.
While Spain wants to host the final game, Morocco is taking no prisoners on the issue. The North African country has been promoting the new Grand Stade II in Casablanca as the preferred venue for hosting such an event.
Meanwhile, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Rafael Louzan, was recently quoted as saying failure to host the final match of the 2030 World Cup will be ‘inexplicable'.
Even though Louzan praised Morocco's revolution in developing world-class football facilities, he pointed out that Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeu are exceptional stadiums capable of hosting the final match.
On the other hand, the President of Morocco's Football Federation, labelled August 2025 claims that Santiago Bernabeu will host the final as speculative media. He asserted that a decision will be made after discussions between the host countries and FIFA.
August 2025: Spanish Sports Council president backs Santiago Bernabeu for 2030 World Cup final
Recent reports from various Spanish media outlets have claimed that Real Madrid reached a deal with FIFA to host the 2030 World Cup final.
However, FIFA has not made any official decision regarding this matter. During the 2030 Club World Cup held in the USA, it was reported that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to finalise the deal. Nevertheless, sources close to the organising committee for the 2030 World Cup have denied these assertions.
Most recently, in July 2025, the president of the Spanish Sports Council discussed potential hosts for the 2030 World Cup final. He mentioned that while Portugal has expressed interest in hosting the final, Real Madrid, as the capital of Spain, remains a frontrunner among the likely venues.
December 2024 update – no World Cup 2030 final decision
While we all still believe that Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu will eventually be chosen to host the 2030 World Cup final, there is some serious doubt regarding the outcome starting to surface.
Back in October, neither the Spanish Prime Minister nor the former president of the Spanish Football Association included the final or the Bernabeu in their speeches after the confirmation of games being hosted in Spain for the tournament.
And while FIFA have explicitly stated that the Madrid-based venue is their preferred hosting selection, there is little to no indication that Real Madrid has any interest in doing so.
It remains unclear whether FIFA will get their wish, but the uncertainties could boost rival countries, such as Morocco's, chances of hosting the 2030 World Cup final.
Hosting the World Cup across six nations is a bold and innovative idea by FIFA; however, it seems to be creating significant issues regarding the selection of hosting venues, especially for the final.
June 2024 – Santiago Bernabeu clear favourite to host the World Cup final
Marca reported on 26 June 2024 that FIFA want the 2030 World Cup final to be held at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid are understood to be reluctant to give up their stadium for an extended period due to their commitment to hosting concerts and other events.
The relationship between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Madrid president Florentino Perez is considered excellent, and both sides are optimistic that they will conclude a deal that will suit everyone. Time constraints are also not an issue, as Marca notes that the final schedule for the 2026 World Cup was announced less than a year ago.
? JUST IN: FIFA wants to host 2030 World Cup Final at the Bernabeu and has reached out to Real Madrid to close a deal. @marca ? pic.twitter.com/B6TiHFpX3v
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 26, 2024
The Spanish sports newspaper said: “At the moment, it is looking for a formula that can make the use of the stadium compatible with FIFA, and also with Real Madrid. Both parties are optimistic, and if, as all indications are, the 2030 World Cup is ratified by the FIFA Congress in December, the Bernabeu will be the main focus of the event, something that already happened in 1982.”
The last time the World Cup final was hosted at the Bernabeu was back in 1982, when Italy beat West Germany 3-1, thanks to goals from Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli, and Alessandro Altobelli. Over 90,000 fans were in attendance at Madrid’s home stadium.