FIFA visits San Mamés ahead of 2030 World Cup bid

FIFA inspecting Basque Country stadiums as part of second-round evaluation for 2030 World Cup host selection.

A FIFA delegation is visiting the Basque Country to inspect candidate cities for hosting the 2030 World Cup. This is the second round of inspections by football's governing body. The delegation visited San Sebastián on Wednesday and Bilbao on Thursday, including Athletic Bilbao's San Mamés stadium and their training ground Lezama.

The inspection involved FIFA delegates, representatives from the Spanish Football Federation, Athletic Bilbao officials, and public authorities from Bilbao and the Basque Country. Originally, both San Mamés and Anoeta were planned to host four matches each during the tournament. However, recent proposals from Basque institutions suggest a single joint candidacy where Bilbao would host two matches and San Sebastián two matches, though nothing has been finalized.