Joan Laporta is not waiting for FIFA to sort out the biggest match in football. Speaking on Catalunya Ràdio and Cadena SER on Wednesday, the Barcelona president told listeners that the 2030 World Cup final has one right address, and it is not the one most bookmakers are already circling.
“The option should not be Casablanca or Madrid, it should be Camp Nou,” Laporta said, according to Goal. “Casablanca and Madrid are the same.”
The remarks came at an event marking 50 years of Catalan-language radio broadcasting of football. Laporta pitched Camp Nou’s planned 105,000-seat capacity as the reason FIFA should take the Barcelona ground seriously alongside the other two.
FIFA has three stadiums on its list for the 2030 final: Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, Barcelona’s Camp Nou and the Grand Stade Hassan II near Casablanca. The Moroccan project is designed to reach 115,000 seats, which would make it the biggest venue at the tournament. The Bernabéu, extensively rebuilt in recent years, hosted the 1982 final between Italy and West Germany.
Read also: Raphinha treble tears Racing Santander apart as Barcelona restore La Liga lead
The 2029 Champions League final, secured
Laporta’s push comes with fresh momentum. UEFA’s Executive Committee, meeting in Thessaloniki on 15 September, confirmed Camp Nou as the host of the 2029 Champions League final, with Munich Football Arena taking the 2028 edition.
“Two iconic venues!” UEFA said in its announcement. “Munich Football Arena and Camp Nou in Barcelona will host the #UCLfinal in 2028 and 2029 respectively.”
It will be the first Champions League final at the Barcelona ground since 1999, when Manchester United beat Bayern Munich 2-1 with two injury-time goals. The reconstructed stadium is currently operating at around 62,000 seats, with the target of 105,000 pencilled in for late 2027 or early 2028, comfortably ahead of the 2029 match.
The urban planning hurdle
Laporta’s tone has hardened since earlier in the year. In February, he sounded far more cautious about Barcelona’s chances of landing the World Cup final.
Read also: US congressman writes to NHL commissioner over Ovechkin's appearance in United Russia campaign ad
“It would be magnificent for the 2030 World Cup final to be played at Camp Nou, but there is still a lot of work to do,” he said in comments carried by Mundo Deportivo and reported by Foot Africa.
Laporta also flagged the practical obstacle to a FIFA bid.
“We must adapt the urban development plan in collaboration with the city council, because FIFA’s requirements involve the complete redevelopment of the area around the stadium, not just finishing the construction work.”
Seven months later, with the Champions League final secured and the redevelopment closer to the finish line, that caution has turned into a direct challenge to the FIFA short-list.
Read also: Ibrahimovic back in the stands as Amorim faces former club Benfica in Europa League opener
“`Read also: Skjelmose draws a line in the squad: 'No one can take the Tour leadership from me yet'
