Casablanca Enhances Rating of Bernabéu and Camp Nou for 2030 World Cup Final

Morocco, Spain, and Portugal's joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup has received significant technical backing, according to the latest evaluation published by FIFA. With an overall score of 4.2 out of 5, the proposal from these three countries is poised to be selected at the FIFA Congress on December 11. However, one of the most surprising aspects of the report is the remarkable rating achieved by Casablanca's Grand Hassan II Stadium, which, despite not yet being built, has outperformed two of Spain's most iconic stadiums, the Santiago Bernabéu and Camp Nou, in technical evaluations for hosting the final and the opening match. Although it has not yet been officially announced which stadium will be chosen for these two key events, nor has it been defined which venues will host the matches to be played in South America before the European and African phases.

The detailed report on the bid highlights that the stadiums proposed by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco more than meet the requirements set by FIFA to be considered venues for the 2030 World Cup. Of the 20 proposed stadiums, spread across 17 host cities, the Grand Hassan II Stadium, still under construction in Casablanca, has achieved a score of 4.3 out of 5, while Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabéu received a rating of 4.2 out of 5. This stadium, which is under development and has a planned capacity of 115,000 spectators, stands as one of the strongest options to host the final or the opening match, surpassing in capacity the historic Spanish venues.

The FIFA report highlights that despite the modernization and expansion efforts at Santiago Bernabéu and Camp Nou, both stadiums do not meet all the specific requirements to host the tournament's most important events. In contrast, the Grand Hassan II Stadium, whose construction recently began and is expected to be completed in 2028, stands out for its impressive capacity and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Following the three candidate stadiums to host the final and the opening match, with a score of 4.3 out of 5, are other notable stadiums. Madrid's Metropolitano, with the same rating as the three main candidates, is one of the most valued, followed by six stadiums with a score of 4.1 out of 5. Among them are San Mamés in Bilbao, Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Estadio Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, La Cartuja in Seville, Estadio de Fez in Morocco, and Estadio Dragao in Porto.

With a score of 4.0 are the Grand Stadium of Tangier and the Grand Stadium of Agadir. Slightly lower, with a rating of 3.9 out of 5, are the Estadio de Gran Canaria and the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon. Finally, with a score of 3.8, are the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastián and the New Romareda in Zaragoza.

At the bottom of the table, some Spanish stadiums have received the lowest scores. La Rosaleda in Málaga (3.7), the RCD Stadium in Barcelona (3.6), and Riazor in La Coruña (3.4) received the lowest ratings. These stadiums, due to their smaller capacity and lesser infrastructure compared to other more iconic venues, will be designated for group stage matches or less significant encounters within the tournament.

One of the strengths of the proposal is the geographical proximity of the three countries, ensuring that travel between the various host cities does not exceed three hours, a factor highly valued by FIFA. Additionally, the proposed mobility plan advocates for sustainable transport options, reinforcing the image of the bid as a model of responsible and environmentally friendly organization.

In general terms, the joint bid from Spain, Morocco, and Portugal has proven to be solid and well-organized, with the capacity to host an event of the magnitude of the World Cup. The FIFA report highlights the quality of the plans presented, the ambitious vision of the event, and the strong support from local and national governments, which adds a high level of confidence in the organizational capacity of the three countries.