Pradales confirms FIFA toughened March demands without notice for Bilbao’s 2030 World Cup bid | OneFootball

Lehendakari Imanol Pradales confirmed on Wednesday that FIFA introduced tougher host-city requirements in March without prior notice, forcing Basque institutions to reassess Bilbao and San Sebastián’s 2030 World Cup bids.

According to El Correo, the new conditions cover technical, operational, logistical, economic, financial and security matters, so the Basque authorities are analysing them in depth and recalculating the investment needed.

After both cities were shortlisted, negotiations began between FIFA and the Basque administrations to define organisational requirements. Initial estimates put the bill at 35 million euros per venue, around 70 million in total.

That was later negotiated down to 20 million per venue, 40 in total, seen as manageable. But in March, during a FIFA visit to San Mamés and Anoeta, the partially agreed terms were altered, pushing projected costs back up.

The mayor of San Sebastián and the Bizkaia deputy general have since warned the World Cup in Euskadi cannot be taken for granted, and Pradales said the best decision for the country will be taken responsibly. Given the Basque competence structure, the regional government would assume major commitments such as security, with the Ertzaintza required to mount an unprecedented operation across both cities at once.

Pradales indicated it would be a joint call by all Basque administrations, aiming to maintain territorial balance and avoid selecting only one city.

Source: El Correo