source: StadiumDB.com; author: Jakub Ducki
The race to host 2030 World Cup finals is on, and three cities remain in play: Madrid, Barcelona and Benslimane. Each offers unique strengths, making FIFA’s choice potentially one of the toughest ever. What is in favour of each candidate?
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Santiago Bernabéu appears to be the obvious choice, safe and extremely prestigious. The possibility of hosting the 2030 World Cup final in this stadium has been talked about by the Spanish media since July 2024. At the time, a journalist from the Marca newspaper insisted that Estadio Santiago Bernabéu was the favourite in the race for this honourable role.
One of Florentino Perez’s youngest children is extremely loud. This is borne out by the concerts that have been suspended for an indefinite period of time, which have been disturbing and disruptive to residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods. While many stadiums attract activities other than sport, at Bernabeu the number of concerts and artist recognition outweighs all others. Why? The number of takers and sold-out tickets also determines the quality of the modern experience, of which there is some in Madrid.
The most important, flagship feature is, of course, the 360° screen that made its debut during the controversial El Clásico in 2023/24. The system consists of ten screens arranged on the roof, creating the visual effect of a continuous scoreboard that also surrounds the edges of the roof. The system installed at the Bernabéu weighs around 200 tonnes and was manufactured at Brookings’ headquarters in South Dakota. Around 60 people from various departments were involved in the project, including engineering, mechanical and electrical installation. An additional challenge was the tilt of the screens, which enhances the visual experience for fans.
© Madrid1902 | Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
The logistics of the project were equally impressive, with almost 70 containers transported in coordinated transports and a special logistics centre set up in Madrid to avoid storage problems in the crowded city centre. The result? The board is eye-catching in photographs and even more impressive in person. This element of the stadium significantly contributed to the total investment cost of the new Bernabéu, which rose to up to €2 billion during construction. The screen definitely appealed to the spectators. Social media was awash with photos and videos with descriptions full of superlatives. On the X platform, opinions could be found that the screen looked like an element from a computer game, and that its inauguration during El Clásico was a real bull’s-eye.
However, Bernabéu is more than just a screen. The moveable roof, covering all the stands and the pitch, provides exceptional functionality, and exclusive premium areas such as the SkyBar, make the stadium one of the most luxurious venues in the world. SkyBarmto the gem of the new Bernabéu, located on the top floor of the stadium. The 700 m² area includes an exclusive restaurant, El Palco with 200 seats overlooking the pitch and The View terraces. The SkyBar is connected to the panoramic Skywalk, which runs along the facade of the stadium, offering spectacular views of Madrid.
© Real Madridb | Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
The 200 seats are divided between the Gold, Premium and Diamond zones, with prices ranging from €2,000 to €3,000 for single admission. Assuming a 100% fill rate, the proceeds for a single event could be more than €500,000. However, these are prices for LaLiga games. There is nothing stopping them from jacking up the price for the final itself several times, which could give a one-off boost of up to several million €.
The stadium is distinguished by a number of high-tech features such as advanced Wi-Fi 6, a sliding pitch, and an underground turf care system. All this, combined with Florentino Perez’s good relationship with Gianni Infantino could give the illusion of a perfect match.This is football heritage
– these words by José Mourinho perfectly capture the importance of Camp Nou, one of the most recognisable stadiums in the world. Before the modernisation began, it was a symbol of football history, and the new project is set to raise its status even higher. Nou Camp Nou under construction will be bigger, more modern and just as legendary. The genius of Leo Messi has undoubtedly helped build the greatness of this venue, and there are already further talents emerging from the current Blaugrana team who will also promote the Catalan stadium with their performances in the future.
Attendances at Camp Nou have been among the highest in Europe for years . Between 2004 and 2020, until the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the average number of spectators per match fell below 70,000 only once. The club from Catalonia is one of the most recognisable sports brands in the world, and tourists also contribute to the impressive attendance, with numbers as high as 10,000 per match.
© FC Barcelona | Design of Nou Camp Nou
The stadium’s tourist success is supported by its location in Barcelona, one of the most visited cities in the world. A visit to Camp Nou is a must for many visitors – it is on a par with attractions such as the Sagrada Familia or Barceloneta beach. Stadium tours are combined with a visit to the club’s museum, which is one of the most visited cultural venues in Catalonia.
The Camp Nou has witnessed numerous triumphs for FC Barcelona – both on the national and international stage. However, despite its prestige, the Spanish national team has rarely played in this stadium. The main reasons were political issues and the strong sense of separateness of the Catalans. The non-FIFA-affiliated Catalan national team plays its matches at the stadium. This could be a challenge in hosting the World Cup final, but at the same time an opportunity to break down historical barriers.
The main features of the new project are: the construction from scratch of a new third tier of equal height around the entire outer perimeter and thus increasing the capacity of the stadium, the creation of a VIP ring between the second and third tiers of the stands and the roofing of all spectator seats in the stadium. The complete completion of Camp Nou expansion works is planned for 2026.
© FC Barcelona | Design of Nou Camp Nou
An important moment for Camp Nou was the visit of a delegation from the Spanish, Moroccan and Portuguese football federations on May 30, 2024. During the meeting, FIFA was presented with an update on the preparations of the candidate stadiums for hosting the 2030 World Cup, with FC Barcelona and the city authorities assuring that Camp Nou was ready to host the World Cup final. Despite the ambitious plans, the biggest stumbling block in the bid for the final may be the rival candidates – Santiago Bernabéu and the Moroccan giant.
Nine thousand seats larger than Camp Nou will be the stadium near Casablanca in Morocco. In Benslimane, because that is exactly where the biggest venue of the World Cup will be located, it will become a big conundrum for FIFA. With a capacity of 115,000 spectators, new Grand Stade Hassan II will surpass, among others, Pyongyang’s Rungrado May Day Stadium, whose chairs we have counted in the past. It will undoubtedly be the largest among typical football stadiums in the world.
Behind Morocco is certainly the infrastructure and favourable location of Benslimane. Grand Stade Hassan II will be built in a location quite far from the centre of Casablanca and the compact built-up area. The designated site is also relatively close to Rabat. It is as far as or just 40 and 60 km from these two major Moroccan cities.
But this is what could be a huge plus for this candidacy. Good fan management, proper infrastructure connections and fans may find no traffic jams, clean, uncongested streets. A new motorway linking Casablanca to Rabat is planned to run next to the stadium, as well as a high-speed rail line. Two railway stations are planned nearby: one for high-speed rail and one for regional rail. It is expected to take just 15 minutes to reach the stadium by high-speed train from Casablanca.
© Oualalou + Choi, Populous | Design of Grand Stade Hassan II
However, the stadium itself will be no worse, even than the Spanish ones. Grand Stade Hassan II will draw deep inspiration from Moroccan culture, in particular the traditional social gatherings known as moussem. The main design inspirations are also the tent, the garden and the Moroccan landscape. The centrepiece of the structure is an impressive tent-shaped roof.
The stadium is distinguished by its unusual architecture, where the three steep, compact tiers of stands create a dynamic space, providing an unforgettable experience for spectators. Each of the two main stands will hold as many as 29,500 people, they will become some of the largest sectors in the football world. Along the sides of the pitch, five premium levels are planned, offering seating for 12,000 people, including VVIP users, VIPs, Hospitality zone guests, box holders and members of the royal family.
Grand Stade Hassan II is also distinguished by its unique architectural features. The stadium’s roof, made of an aluminium truss with a unique geometry, gives the venue a futuristic look. The structure is supported by a ring of 32 stairs, which form monumental gateways leading into the stadium. These staircases also form the basis for the elevated platforms that house the lush gardens, which are as high as 28 metres above the ground.
The green spaces under the translucent roof create the impression of an oasis, a place of harmony between modernity and nature. It is also worth noting that the stadium will be surrounded by botanical gardens at ground level.
© Oualalou + Choi, Populous | Design of Grand Stade Hassan II
Christopher Lee, Populous’ managing director for EMEA, emphasised the importance of the project to Morocco and the football world at large: Grand Stade Hassan II will be a truly iconic, landmark facility, which will become one of the largest stadiums in the world.
For his part, Tarik Oualalou, lead designer and founding partner of Oualalou + Choi, points to the stadium’s deep roots in Moroccan culture: Grand Stade Hassan II is deeply rooted in Moroccan culture, drawing on its traditions. The stadium embodies the great tradition of Moroccan hospitality.
François Clément, president of Populous France, added: Grand Stade Hassan II will provide extraordinary spaces that create a unique experience for every fan and visitor.
The stadium is a key part of King Mohammed VI’s vision to develop Morocco’s sporting infrastructure. And how could a stadium with a capacity of 114,000 not be chosen in such a situation? After all, no other football stadium in the world can accommodate so many fans. In no way are we going to abandon the final in Spain because we have more facilities
sources close to the Spanish federation assured OKDIARIO. What else have the parties to this stadium rivalry said on the subject?
Despite Grand Stade Hassan II’s impressive plans, the competition to host the 2030 World Cup final is fierce. Spanish media have favoured Estadio Santiago Bernabéu as the venue for the final since July 2024, as confirmed by statements made by Marca journalist , José Félix Díaz. However, the publication of new visuals of the Moroccan stadium caused a media storm in Spain.
The Moroccan press, led by APA News, is openly speculating that Casablanca has a chance of making the final, while the Spanish media are warning of an international campaign
and a Moroccan megastadium that could tip the balance in Morocco’s favour. Barcelona, on the other hand, is quiet – the only exception being the words of sports councillor David Escudé, who noted that Spotify Camp Nou meets all FIFA requirements, unlike Bernabéu.
© FC Barcelona | Design of Nou Camp Nou
The chance to host the final may be taken away from Spain by the Rubiales case, as well as the suspicion of the current RFEF president of irregularities in relation to the transfer of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. The Spanish federation’s image crisis could deprive it of hosting the final, but there was already speculation that it would take away the organisation of the World Cup itself, which has not been confirmed.
FIFA has conducted an in-depth evaluation of the three contenders for hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup Final—Santiago Bernabéu, Camp Nou, and Grand Stade Hassan II. All three stadiums received an identical high score of 4.3, leaving the decision to hinge on secondary criteria such as transportation and accommodation.
In the transportation category, the three venues were evenly matched, scoring 4.7 each. Differences emerged in the accommodation assessment, where the Spanish candidates gained the upper hand with perfect scores of 5.0, while Casablanca scored an average of 4.0. Despite these distinctions, no definitive leader has emerged.
Madrid’s Bernabéu may face challenges with its capacity, which is just barely within FIFA’s requirements. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Camp Nou impresses with its eco-friendly innovations and greater seating capacity. On the other hand, Grand Stade Hassan II boasts the largest seating capacity in the world and cutting-edge infrastructure, though its construction is still in the early stages.
The situation remains unresolved, and the ultimate choice will rest with FIFA’s Extraordinary Congress, set to convene on December 11. Gianni Infantino will metaphorically play Kiss, Marry, Kill
with the stadiums: one will host the final, another might secure the opening match following the tournament’s inaugural games in South America, while the third will walk away empty-handed.
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