CSD President Urges Efforts to Host 2030 World Cup Final in Spain

Spanish National Sports Council (CSD) President Uribes said Spain will seek to host the 2030 World Cup final.

Uribes attended a discussion session held by the Malaga Sports Journalists Association at the Museo Thyssen in Malaga on Wednesday. He said he would "fight until the end" to have the 2030 World Cup final held in Spain, as this would be "a guarantee for FIFA". He also said Vigo and Valencia will enter Spain's final list of 11 host cities, while Malaga will not be included because it voluntarily withdrew.

A gift for Malaga CF

The CSD president presented a gift to Malaga CF to congratulate the team on being promoted to La Liga last season. Malaga CF general manager Kike Perez also attended the event and received the gift from Uribes. Uribes said: "I am very happy to see Malaga promoted to La Liga; they should have been back a long time ago."

When discussing Malaga CF, Uribes declined to comment on the club's situation of being under prolonged judicial administration for more than six years. He said: "This is a topic on which I should neither express an opinion nor get involved."

About the 2030 World Cup

Regarding Malaga's withdrawal from the competition to become a 2030 World Cup host city, Uribes said he understands "the cities, including Malaga, that chose to withdraw from the World Cup".

Uribes said: "I spoke with the mayor, and I completely understand. He called me and told me that Malaga has too many cultural and sporting matters... He said they had decided not to bid. I understand that, just as I understand other cities withdrawing."

Uribes said: "The national level has made it clear that it will not provide even one euro to help cities build and renovate stadiums. I believe Malaga has the ability to host other events, and even without the World Cup, it will continue to have these activities."

In Uribes' view, holding the final in Spain "would be a guarantee for FIFA, and we should tell them that this will be the best place to host the final".

The CSD president explained that Spain "has led this project", adding that "we have more host cities, and we have just won the World Cup in the United States, while also performing very well in security, public order, transport and infrastructure".

He cited the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate held at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in December 2018 as an example, saying it was a match with "very serious public order challenges", but Spain handled it well at the Bernabeu, "using only two months, while we were also preparing for that year's Champions League final at the Metropolitano Stadium. The result was very smooth."

Uribes said: "If the final is not in Madrid, should Spain give up hosting? No, this is not something to consider now. Spain cannot give up any opportunity. We must defend having the final in Spain. This is our position. We must fight until the end, ensure we have 11 host cities, and do things well."

Uribes also said that holding the 2030 World Cup final in Spain "is not a decision of the Spanish government, nor a decision of the Spanish Football Federation. Ultimately, FIFA will decide where it will be held. Just as they have now decided in the United States, and by the way, that was decided eight months ago to be in New York."

Regarding the allocation of host cities, Uribes said: "Now we have 11 cities. Vigo is among them, and they really want to host it. Valencia also wants to host it and is waiting for the new stadium to be completed. Indeed, if the new Mestalla Stadium can be completed in 2028, how could Valencia not become a host city? I believe Vigo and Valencia will both be included, and I have always advocated putting them on the list."

Uribes also said they have established an interdepartmental committee and are prepared to meet "the requirements put forward by FIFA, which requires effort, and Portugal and Morocco must do the same. We have committed to fulfilling these requirements, advancing everything, and of course defending the hosting of the final in Spain".