The YallaVamos bid welcomed a delegation from FIFA in Portugal and Spain for a week-long series of visits in several iconic potential stadiums for the 2030 FIFA World CupTM.

The journey to select potential venues for the 2030 World Cup has begun! From May 26-30, FIFA embarked on a series of technical visits, which started in Portugal and subsequently moved on to Spain.

The week-long site visits in Portugal started at the City of Football in Lisbon, where the FIFA delegation, headed by Nicholas Rozenberg, held several insightful meetings with representatives of the 2030 bid steering committee from Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Also present were Fernando Gomes, President of the Portuguese Football Federation, António Laranjo, Bid Coordinator, as well as leaders of S.L. Benfica, Sporting CP, and FC Porto.

Following these meetings, the delegation visited Lisbon's iconic stadiums - Estádio da Luz and Estádio José Alvalade. The delegation then concluded its technical visits in Portugal with a stop at Porto's renowned Estádio do Dragão. In addition to stadium visits, potential sites for fan zones were also inspected during these visits. Given Portugal's vibrant culture and hospitable populace, these fan zones are expected to provide an unmatched atmosphere and level of fan engagement during the 2030 FIFA World Cup!

After concluding their visit in Portugal, the delegation proceeded to Spain’s Basque Country. There, they were warmly received by Jon Berasategi, the General Director of the Athletic Club, at the San Mamés stadium in Bilbao. This venue recently hosted the UEFA Women's Champions League final in May 2024, won by FC Barcelona Femeni in thrilling circumstances. The delegation was also welcomed by representatives of the Real Sociedad de Fútbol at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastián, a facility that has seen substantial renovations and enhancements in recent years.

Finally, this series of visits concluded with a trip to Barcelona, with a tour of the Spotify Camp Nou and FC Barcelona facilities led by Joan Laporta, President of the club. The visit included the stadium – which is currently under renovation – Barça commercial office and the 1899 Auditorium, where the Espai Barça project was presented. This was followed by a visit to RCD Espanyol’s Stage Front Stadium, led by Deputy General Manager Antoni Alegre, who provided an overview of the facilities and exciting refurbishment plans.                                                   

The bid delegation would like to thank FIFA for their support and collaboration on this journey. In a statement, Antonio Laranjo, bid Coordinator, highlighted: “Our modern, top-tier stadiums comply with the highest safety standards, offer superior comfort, and incorporate cutting-edge technology, ensuring an extraordinary experience for both players and spectators. We were delighted to meet with FIFA’s bidding team and show them the venues and plans we have for the FIFA World Cup 2030.”