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Etxanobe Expresses Doubts on Bilbao Hosting 2030 Football World Cup Matches

The Provincial Council leader indicates that regional officials are conducting a thorough reflection on the event's suitability.

Generic image of a football pitch.
IA

Generic image of a football pitch.

Bizkaia's Deputy General, Elixabete Etxanobe, has expressed doubts regarding Bilbao's suitability as a host city for the 2030 Football World Cup, stressing the necessity for profound reflection.

Elixabete Etxanobe, the Deputy General of Bizkaia, has admitted that the provincial government harbors doubts about bringing 2030 Football World Cup matches to Bilbao. Etxanobe stated that a «deep reflection» is underway and has extended these concerns to other «involved institutions». «A decision has not yet been made», she said in an interview with Euskadi Irratia.
In December 2024, it was confirmed that Bilbao's San Mamés stadium and San Sebastián's Reale Arena would be among the venues for the 2030 Football World Cup. This tournament will be officially hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco on the competition's centenary, following unanimous approval at the extraordinary FIFA Congress.
The Deputy General of Bizkaia acknowledged that «there are people who do not want these types of events, and that is a fact». Etxanobe highlighted the importance of «thinking carefully before bringing such events, because, depending on the event, the attendees can be different, and that also needs careful consideration».
«We need to think carefully, as not everyone is the same, and we must consider each case individually», she stated, differentiating the type of audience that attends football matches versus, for example, rugby. The Deputy General's remarks come just a week after the Mayor of San Sebastián, Jon Insausti, said that «when I have the full picture of the consequences of all this, we will decide whether to proceed or not». Days later, the San Sebastián mayor clarified his position in a letter, noting that, in any event, the decision would be made jointly with Bilbao.
In March, a delegation from FIFA visited San Mamés to assess the condition of the 10 Spanish venues bidding to host matches for the 2030 World Cup. The stadium achieved the fifth-best rating among the 20 stadiums included in the bid from Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Only the Metropolitano (4.3), Santiago Bernabéu (4.3), the new Camp Nou (4.3), and the future Hassan II in Casablanca (4.3) – the latter three aiming to host the final – surpassed the records of the Bilbao stadium.

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