The reasons why Anoeta will host the World Cup in 2030

It will be a good thing and all that is left is for its official confirmation. The Anoeta Stadium, unless there is a radical change in the coming days, will be one of the 11 fixed venues for the celebration of World Cup matches in 2030 after passing the final cut by the Spanish Federation and the Higher Sports Council. FIFA now has until July 31 to evaluate all the candidates in depth and the official status may not come until September, but Donostia’s path to the 2030 World Cup seems irreversible.

The Federation and the Higher Sports Council requested this Friday in a meeting with FIFA and the other two hosts, Morocco and Portugal, that there are 12 and not 11 stadiums in Spain hosting matches for the 2030 World Cup to be provided by North African countries six places and Portugal, three.

Regarding Anoeta, the RFEF and FIFA delegations that visited Anoeta and Donostia were delighted with the potential and goodness of the San Sebastian stadium and its surroundings. So far, it meets about 95% of the requested requirements – the stadium will now have 41,000 spectators – and has six years to get everything ready. And there are two factors that penalize it: that it is the second place in Euskadi, because San Mamés is settled and has communities that have nothing, and the limited number of hotel rooms, and even more considering that the World Cup is held in the high season, June and July, when the demand is very high.

On the other hand, there are other forces driving the candidacy of Anoeta and Gipuzkoa. They enjoy the proximity, accessibility and, above all, the privacy of the Zubieta facilities. It’s a great place to train. And, moreover, its proximity to France benefits it, facilitating the presence of citizens of that country and perhaps the scheduling of a ‘bleus’ match in Donostia.

There are also no objections to urban planning, infrastructure or security, among other things because there are four airports within 100 kilometers.