One venue, two stadiums and four games: this is the Basque proposal for the 2030 World Cup
The Basque institutions have proposed to FIFA a joint candidacy between Bilbao and San Sebastián to host the 2030 World Cup matches. The proposal aims to reduce the financial and organisational impact of FIFA's demands, without Euskadi renouncing its headquarters.
Instead of presenting two independent venues, Bilbao and San Sebastián will be presented as the only Basque venue with two stadiums: San Mamés and Anoeta.
The proposal, which has been sent to FIFA by the Basque Government, the deputies of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, the municipalities of Bilbao and San Sebastián, the Athletic Club and the Royal Society, envisages that both fields will host the matches of the group stage of the competition.
Why a single residence?
The decision comes after years of work and a thorough analysis of the conditions set by FIFA for hosting the tournament.
The institutions have pointed out that some of the demands made by FIFA have a high economic and social cost, and have therefore advocated a formula that allows the Basque candidacy to be maintained without taking on obligations that they consider to be harmful to the public.
As they have explained, the joint proposal responds to a clear premise: to make Euskadi's participation in the World Cup compatible with the protection of the general interest.
Red lines of the Basque institutions
The administrations involved transferred a number of conditions to FIFA in 2024 that they found difficult to accept.
These include the high economic costs associated with the financial year, the obligation to make new investments in infrastructure, certain regulatory changes required by the organisation and certain trade issues associated with the tournament.
During the competition, they also opposed the restriction of other events in residential cities or the non-recognition of the official languages of the Basque Country in certain areas of organization, among others.
FIFA's visit and new proposal
The process took a further step in March 2026: FIFA representatives visited San Mamés and Anoeta to evaluate the facility.
Following this visit, and when it became known that the objections raised by the Basque institutions had not yet been taken into consideration, the administrations carried out a joint analysis of the consequences of accepting all the requirements for two separate residences.
The result, in a single budget, has been to present a candidacy based on a single headquarters shared between Bilbao and San Sebastián.
Waiting for an answer
The documentation was sent to FIFA on 31 May, within the time limits provided for in the selection process.
The Basque institutions have confirmed their willingness to participate in the 2030 World Cup in San Mamés and Anoeta and are now awaiting a response from the organisers, while stating that they will continue to prepare their candidacy and work in a coordinated manner at future stages of the process.
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