The 2030 World Cup will be played in around twenty stadiums across Spain, Portugal and Morocco, plus three centenary venues in South America, and they fall into two groups: brand-new stadiums built for the tournament, and historic grounds that have been renovated for the occasion. Each type offers a different experience for fans, and knowing the difference will help you choose which matches to apply for and what to expect when you get there. Here is the complete guide to the stadiums of 2030.

The new builds: Casablanca and beyond

The most spectacular new stadium of the tournament is the Grand Stade de Casablanca, a vast new arena being built to host some of the biggest matches, possibly including the final. New stadiums offer the best facilities in the world: wide concourses, excellent sightlines, modern food and drink, and accessibility for all fans. Everything is designed for the modern matchday experience, and the sheer scale of the new builds is part of the spectacle.

The risk with new stadiums is timing. A stadium that is still being finished close to the tournament can have teething problems: unfinished transport links, limited testing and unfamiliarity for the stewards and staff. FIFA inspects every stadium rigorously, and test events are held before the tournament, but fans should check the official guidance for new venues and allow extra time on matchday, because the first games in a new stadium are always the most unpredictable.

The renovations: Bernabéu, Camp Nou and the classics

The renovated stadiums are the soul of the tournament. The Santiago Bernabéu has been transformed with a retractable roof and a new facade, and the Camp Nou is being rebuilt into a modern giant while keeping its identity. These are stadiums with decades of history, where the atmosphere has been built over generations, and the renovations have added comfort without removing character.

Renovated stadiums have one big advantage: they are proven. The transport links work, the staff know the ground, and the city knows how to handle a big match. The Bernabéu has hosted a World Cup final before, and the Estádio da Luz and the Estádio do Dragão have hosted European finals. When you go to a renovated stadium, you are going to a ground that has already passed the test.

What the differences mean for fans

For fans, the practical differences are simple. New stadiums tend to have better facilities, more space and easier access for disabled supporters, but they can be further from the city centre and harder to reach on public transport. Renovated stadiums are usually in the heart of the city, with established transport and a matchday culture that has grown up around them over decades.

Ticket prices also vary: the biggest matches in the biggest stadiums cost the most, and the final, wherever it is played, will be the most expensive ticket of the tournament. The best value is often found in the group-stage matches at the smaller renovated stadiums, where the atmosphere is superb and the prices are lower. Choose your matches by the experience you want, not just by the name of the stadium.

Which stadiums to prioritise

If you can only attend a few matches, prioritise the stadiums that offer something unique: the Bernabéu for its history, the Camp Nou for its scale, the Grand Stade for its novelty, the Estádio da Luz for its atmosphere and the Estadio Azteca's successors for the centenary matches. Each one offers a different kind of World Cup memory, and the tournament is designed to be experienced across many cities.

Whatever you choose, remember the practical rules: buy tickets only through FIFA.com, check the transport links for your stadium in advance, and arrive early. The stadiums of 2030 will be among the finest ever assembled for a World Cup, and the fans who plan well will enjoy them at their best.

The 2030 World Cup's stadiums mix the brand-new and the beautifully renovated, from the Grand Stade in Casablanca to the Bernabéu and the Camp Nou. Each offers a different experience — and the fans who understand the difference will choose the matches that suit them best.