Bilbao hosts a key FIFA inspection on Thursday as the 2030 World Cup venue race intensifies. It is the first visit since Basque institutions switched to a joint bid with San Sebastián, reducing Euskadi’s proposed matches from eight to four.
According to El Correo, the joint model has proved contentious and is not especially attractive to FIFA, given the cost of staging each match. The delegation visited San Sebastián on Wednesday and will continue its tour of Spain after Bilbao.
FIFA has sent 18 representatives from across its functional areas. They will hold working meetings with Bilbao City Council, the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, the Basque Government and Athletic, and will inspect San Mamés.
Assessments will cover infrastructure and services including hotels, healthcare provision, transport, training sites and evacuation procedures. The aim is to gauge readiness, test operational plans and remind institutions of host-city requirements.
Under the joint approach, Bilbao and San Sebastián would stand as a single host venue, with any games shared equally.
This would leave much of the organisational footprint in place while halving the match inventory and associated income. FIFA typically deploys hundreds of staff for each fixture.
The visit gives Bilbao a platform to set out its case and project conditions. No immediate decision is expected, with FIFA in listening mode rather than adjudicating.
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