Laporta targets another major final while Camp Nou remains unfinished

Joan Laporta wants Spotify Camp Nou to stage the 2030 FIFA World Cup final, just one year after hosting the 2029 Champions League final. Barcelona’s president has confirmed that the club intends to put forward its stadium, even though the redevelopment project is still ongoing.

FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TO THE WORLD CUP

Laporta discussed the issue during a joint SER Catalunya and Catalunya Ràdio broadcast from Camp Nou before Barcelona’s match against Racing. Asked about the competing options in Madrid and near Casablanca, he backed his own stadium without hesitation.

“It should not be Casablanca or Madrid, it should be Camp Nou,” Laporta said, adding that Barcelona would formally present the venue and its case.

There is an important distinction. UEFA has officially awarded the 2029 Champions League final to Camp Nou. The World Cup proposal is only a future bid, and FIFA has not selected the host stadium for the 2030 final.

A 105,000-SEAT PROMISE

Laporta’s main argument is capacity. Once completed, the rebuilt Camp Nou is expected to hold around 105,000 spectators, making it one of the largest football stadiums in the world.

The venue has already reopened for matches, but major construction work remains. The roof installation is planned for 2027 and the stadium has not yet reached its final form. There is enough time before 2030 for Barcelona to complete the project, but the current bid is still based on what Camp Nou is expected to become rather than what it is today.

FIFA HAS NOT MADE ITS DECISION

The Santiago Bernabéu and the new Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, are also in contention. Morocco’s planned venue is expected to hold 115,000 spectators. Moroccan federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has claimed that Benslimane will stage the final, but FIFA has not endorsed that announcement and says a decision will be made in due course.

The Bernabéu also has experience on its side, having hosted the 1982 World Cup final between Italy and West Germany. Laporta presented that history as a reason to give Barcelona its turn in 2030. It is a convenient argument, although previous experience remains a strength rather than a disqualification.

A BID, NOT A BOOKING

Spain, Portugal and Morocco will host most of the 2030 tournament, with centenary matches also taking place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The allocation of the biggest fixtures has not yet been finalised.

Barcelona can offer capacity, history and the backing of the city. For now, however, Camp Nou has entered the conversation rather than secured the final. The club still needs to complete the stadium and then convince FIFA — two details that cannot be replaced by an ambitious announcement.