Barcelona’s rebuilt Camp Nou has entered the contest for the defining night of the 2030 World Cup, with club president Joan Laporta urging FIFA to consider the 105,000-seat arena for the final.
Barcelona presses Camp Nou case for 2030 World Cup final
The debate stretches from Catalonia to Casablanca and Madrid. Morocco is advancing a new 115,000-capacity stadium in Casablanca, while Spain’s Santiago Bernabéu remains another leading candidate for the final.
Laporta believes Camp Nou’s scale can give Barcelona a compelling argument after its recent redevelopment. The venue has never staged a World Cup final, and he sees 2030 as a chance to change that.
Quick facts
- Camp Nou is expected to hold 105,000 spectators after renovation.
- Morocco is building a 115,000-seat stadium in Casablanca.
- The Santiago Bernabéu hosted the 1982 World Cup final.
- The 2030 tournament will involve Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
- The joint proposal lists 20 stadiums across 17 candidate cities.
“There is one reason above all: 105,000 fans,” Laporta said in a radio interview. He argued that FIFA should weigh that capacity heavily when selecting the final venue.
The Barcelona president also noted that the Bernabéu has already had its World Cup final, when Italy beat West Germany in Madrid in 1982. With respect to Morocco’s bid, he said the final should be played in Spain, pointing to the country’s status as a World Cup-winning nation.
For Laporta, a final at Camp Nou would represent the international recognition Barcelona wants for its stadium. He said the club will present the case with capacity as a central point, alongside further arguments still to be developed.
The 2030 edition will be the first World Cup shared between six host nations. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will stage the bulk of the competition, while Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay are set to host matches in the opening phase as part of the centenary tribute to the inaugural tournament in Uruguay in 1930.
Spain is positioned to receive the largest share of fixtures. Of the 17 cities included in the Iberian-North African bid dossier, nine are Spanish.
The plan contains 11 stadiums in Spain, six in Morocco and three in Portugal. Eight proposed venues hold more than 60,000 people, with three of those exceeding 80,000.
SEO Title: Barcelona push Camp Nou for 2030 World Cup final
SEO Description: Barcelona president Joan Laporta wants the renovated 105,000-seat Camp Nou considered for the 2030 World Cup final amid rival plans in Madrid and Casablanca.
