Spain’s bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, centered on a joint Iberian approach with Portugal, extends its reach to include a broader European offer. This collaboration was publicly acknowledged on a Tuesday press event at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where leaders from the football federations of Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine confirmed their intent to pursue a shared host bid. The presidents—Luis Rubiales of the Spanish federation and Fernando Gomes of the Portuguese federation—along with Andriy Pavelko of Ukraine, emphasized that UEFA has given its full backing to the proposal. The message from the federation chiefs stressed that football transcends the game itself, acting as a source of inspiration and a symbol of collective commitment.
In July, Spain laid out plans for stadiums across the country that might serve as World Cup venues. Dozens of major arenas were highlighted as potential sites, including Balaídos in Vigo, Riazor in A Coruña, El Molinón in Gijón, San Mamés in Bilbao, Anoeta in San Sebastián, La Romareda in Zaragoza, Camp Nou in Barcelona, Cornellà-El Prat in Barcelona, Valencia’s Nuevo Mestalla, Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Metropolitano in Madrid, La Cartuja in Seville, La Rosaleda in Malaga, Nueva Condomina in Murcia, and Gran Canaria Stadium in Las Palmas. The emphasis is on selecting a mix of historic and modern venues to showcase the host country’s footballing infrastructure and fan culture.
Portugal has proposed three primary venues to carry the bid: two in Lisbon, namely Estádio da Luz and the José Alvalade Stadium, along with Porto’s iconic Estádio do Dragão. This triad of venues is intended to offer a diverse geographic footprint while leveraging each stadium’s capacity and international appeal. The Iberian bid seeks to present a cohesive, multi-city framework that could host the world’s largest football event with robust logistics and strong fan engagement.
The Iberian nomination has gained momentum amid a shifting landscape in international tournament hosting. The withdrawal of the United Kingdom and Ireland from the Euro 2028 bid has reshaped regional dynamics, underscoring how alliances and regional blocs can influence the hosting calculus for major events. The potential joint proposal from Spain and Portugal, with Ukrainian involvement, is positioned as a historically significant option that could reflect broader European cooperation and stability within the sport.
competitors
Until formal confirmations are issued, the candidacy landscape appears to be evolving. The leading contenders are expected to include Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine as the core European participants in a unified bid. Additionally, a group of South American nations—Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile—have been discussed as potential co-bidders in various scenarios. A separate set of discussions, reported by media outlets, has mentioned possibilities of joint nominations that would involve other regions. There is also speculation about involvement from Egypt, Greece, and Saudi Arabia in alternative bid configurations.
Observers note that, at present, no European rival is publicly presenting a counterproposal to challenge the Iberian bid peak, given strong support observed from UEFA for the Iberia collaboration. The broader political and financial dynamics of potential hosts remain a key factor in shaping the final decision, with many stakeholders weighing stadium readiness, travel access, and fan experience as critical components of a successful World Cup hosting plan.