Real Madrid make early push for 2030 World Cup final

Real Madrid have told FIFA that the Santiago Bernabeu’s ability to host the 2030 World Cup final should be judged not only by the quality of the stadium, but also by the club’s experience in managing major events.

The message was delivered during a FIFA delegation’s visit to the Bernabeu as part of an inspection tour of the cities and stadiums being considered for the tournament, which will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

“ You can build a golden stadium, but you have to know how to manage events. You need a team that makes everything run smoothly, and we are the best,” a Real Madrid official told the visitors.

The official is understood to have around two decades of experience overseeing matches and events at the stadium. Real Madrid’s most recent major event was the hosting of an American football match last week.

The final decision on the allocation of matches, including the venue for the final, will not be made before 2027. However, Real Madrid used the FIFA visit to make its position clear at an early stage, arguing that organisational expertise should be as important as the stadium itself.

The club believes its record of staging high-profile matches and global events, combined with the Bernabeu’s extensive redevelopment, gives Madrid an advantage over its rivals. That view has previously been put to FIFA president Gianni Infantino by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

Spain maintains its claim

Real Madrid was not the only Spanish party to use the visit to press its case. Spanish Football Federation president Rafael Louzan also raised the issue during a dinner with FIFA officials, making clear that Spain wants the final to be played on its territory.

The final is scheduled for 21 July 2030. Louzan argued that hosting the closing match would be a natural extension of Spain’s role in the tournament, particularly because the country is expected to stage the largest number of games.

According to Marca, there has been no serious suggestion that Spain could withdraw from the joint hosting project. However, the political and sporting messages have become more direct as Spain recognises Morocco as a genuine rival for the final, rather than simply a fellow host.

Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez has also entered the debate. He defended the joint bid while insisting that Spain would retain the largest share of the tournament’s matches.

Sanchez recalled the moment Spain received the World Cup trophy from United States president Donald Trump after winning the tournament hosted in the United States, describing it as “a real political euphoria”.

He said the plan to host the 2030 competition had originally been proposed by Spain and Portugal before Morocco joined, as part of closer co-operation between the three countries. Sanchez also sought to reassure Spanish supporters who are concerned that the final could move to Morocco.

He said he hoped Spain would win the trophy on home soil, adding: “We won in South Africa, we won in New York, and now it is our turn to win in Spain in 2030, isn’t it?”

The final decision will remain with FIFA.