A delegation from FIFA has begun a two-week inspection tour in Spain to review stadiums proposed for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with the inspection team later due to visit the other two countries.
According to the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the delegation will meet representatives of the Spanish government, football clubs and cities bidding to host matches.
The visits are part of FIFA’s process to review preparations for the tournament and assess whether the proposed infrastructure meets its requirements. The final selection of host cities has not yet been made.
Spanish stadiums listed in the joint bid include Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Camp Nou and RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastián, Riazor Stadium in A Coruña, Gran Canaria Stadium in Las Palmas, La Cartuja Stadium in Seville and Nueva Romareda in Zaragoza.
FIFA experts will examine factors including stadium capacity, transport connections, hotel availability and the sustainability of infrastructure projects.
The 2030 tournament will mainly take place in Morocco, Spain and Portugal. However, opening matches will be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the centenary of the first World Cup, held in Montevideo in 1930.
In Morocco, six cities have been proposed as host venues: Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakesh and Agadir.
Morocco is also planning a new stadium, the Grand Stade Hassan II near Benslimane. With a planned capacity of about 115,000 seats, it could become the largest football stadium in the world and a possible venue for the final.
FIFA is expected to confirm the final list of host cities next year.
