FIFA team begins four-day World Cup 2030 stadium review in Portugal

Four-day programme across three stadiums

A multidisciplinary FIFA team is in Portugal for a four-day visit to follow preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal is organising jointly with Spain and Morocco. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) coordinates the work and the links between the bodies involved in the tournament. The programme began on Monday, 2 November, at the José Alvalade stadium, one of the stadiums of Sporting. The Estádio da Luz, used by Benfica, follows on Tuesday, 3 November, and the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, used by FC Porto, closes the programme on Friday, 6 November. Beyond the three stadiums, the team is reviewing hotel units in the metropolitan areas and facilities that could serve as training bases for the participating national teams.

Alvalade works and training sites

At Alvalade, André Bernardo, a member of the Sporting board, presented the stadium's facilities and the improvements made since FIFA's last visit. According to the FPF, the completed interventions impressed FIFA, and the federation highlighted this on its website. Works still under way are meant to strengthen the stadium's conditions, and many of them are expected to be finished in January. Representatives of the Benfica and FC Porto teams assigned to the World Cup project, who had helped prepare the bid file, also attended the start of the work. The Monday programme continued to the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy, the Estádio Nacional, the Estádio do Restelo, the Estádio do Real SC and the Estádio Pina Manique, all put forward as candidate training sites.

FIFA and government praise

Heimo Schirgi, FIFA's director of event operations, gave a positive assessment of the first day and pointed to the cooperation among the institutions involved. He said the visit allowed FIFA to see the work already done and to discuss what still needs doing. Schirgi also described the integration between the Government, the FPF, the clubs and the municipalities as very solid, and he added that the basic infrastructure already exists.

“Everyone seems to work in harmony, sharing the same vision, and that is the most important aspect.”

Pedro Machado, Secretary of State for Tourism, stressed the World Cup's importance for Portugal's international profile and for the national economy. He highlighted the economic weight of the competition but did not give any figures for its economic impact.

“Portugal has accustomed us to rising to the challenge of organizing major international competitions.”

Cities and next steps

Gonçalo Reis, vice-president of the Lisbon city council, presented the tournament as a chance to offer a large event to the world and to Lisbon's residents. He cited Expo 98, Euro 2004 and the Champions League finals as earlier events the city has hosted. António Laranjo, FPF director and coordinator of the team preparing the 2030 World Cup, said the federation's role is to bring all the partners together. Meetings with the municipalities of Lisbon and Porto are planned during the visit. The next stops are the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday, 3 November, and the Estádio do Dragão on Friday, 6 November, with the Alvalade works expected to be largely finished in January.