Bilbao is one of the most distinctive host cities at the 2030 World Cup. The Basque city on Spain's north coast combines a world-class stadium, a fiercely proud football culture and a food scene that rivals anywhere in Europe. For fans who want a World Cup experience that goes beyond the 90 minutes, Bilbao is hard to beat.

The city's stadium, San Mames, is home to Athletic Bilbao and holds around 53,000 fans. Known as the Cathedral of football, it is famous for its steep stands, its noise and its atmosphere. It will host group-stage matches at the 2030 World Cup, and getting a ticket here will be one of the toughest assignments of the tournament.

San Mames is one of the great stadiums of European football. The current arena opened in 2013 on the site of the old ground, and it was designed to keep the noise in: the stands are steep, close to the pitch and roofed, so the sound of 53,000 fans is genuinely intimidating. Athletic Bilbao's supporters are famous for their loyalty — the club only fields players from the Basque Country, and the bond between team and city is unlike anything else in Spain.