When FIFA will decide World Cup 2030 final venue amid Camp Nou, Bernabeu uncertainty

FIFA is reportedly not expected to decide the venue for the 2030 World Cup final until 2028, leaving the race between Morocco and Spain open as preparations for the tournament continue.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, sources familiar with the process believe FIFA will not announce the venue for the showpiece before 2028. 

The report points to the previous World Cup, when FIFA confirmed the 2026 final venue in New Jersey in February 2024, two years before the tournament.

FIFA has not officially confirmed a date for the 2030 final venue decision and has repeatedly maintained that the matter will be resolved “in due course”.

Hassan II Stadium remains in contention for 2030 World Cup final

The reported timeline will give Morocco more time to complete the Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, near Casablanca, which has become the country's preferred venue for the final.

The new stadium is planned to hold approximately 115,000 spectators, making it one of the largest football stadiums in the world once completed. 

Morocco's football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has been particularly vocal about bringing the tournament's biggest match to Benslimane.

Lekjaa claimed in September that the stadium would have the “honour” of hosting the final, but FIFA subsequently reiterated that no venue had been selected.

The project is currently under construction, with completion targets falling around 2027-28. Its huge capacity is a major part of Morocco's case, although the stadium still has to be completed and approved for tournament use.

Morocco, Spain and Portugal were officially appointed as the main hosts for the 2030 World Cup in December 2024. They will stage 101 matches, while Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will each host a centenary fixture.

Camp Nou and Bernabeu keep Spain's final bid alive

Spain is pushing its own case, with Royal Spanish Football Federation president Rafael Louzan having previously said he expects the final to be played in Spain.

The two leading Spanish candidates are Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu and Barcelona's Spotify Camp Nou. Barcelona formally entered the race after mayor Jaume Collboni announced the city's intention to bid for the final at Camp Nou.

Camp Nou is undergoing a major redevelopment and is expected to reach a final capacity of around 105,000. FIFA has already inspected the stadium as part of its wider assessment of potential 2030 venues.

The Bernabeu, meanwhile, offers Spain an established stadium with significant experience of hosting major matches and events.

Mundo Deportivo has identified the Bernabeu, Camp Nou and Hassan II Stadium as the principal contenders, while a further FIFA inspection process involving Spain, Portugal and Morocco remains relevant to the final allocation of venues.

FGG Says: 2030 final decision could reshape stadium history

The wait until 2028, if the reported timeline proves accurate, means none of the three leading candidates can claim the final yet.

For Morocco, the extra time could be particularly important as construction of the Hassan II Stadium continues. Spain, meanwhile, has two major stadium options in Camp Nou and the Bernabeu, giving its bid a different dynamic.

With FIFA yet to make the decision, the final remains one of the biggest unresolved questions surrounding the 2030 World Cup.