Bilbao and San Sebastian, two cities in Spain's Basque region, have officially combined their efforts to bid for hosting matches in the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will also involve Portugal and Morocco. Local authorities and the Basque regional government announced that they have been working diligently for four years to secure this opportunity. Instead of pursuing separate bids, the cities decided to collaborate, presenting a unified budget to FIFA to enhance their chances of hosting. Each city will now utilize its stadium—Athletic Bilbao's San Mames Stadium and Real Sociedad's Anoeta Stadium—to host two group-stage matches. This decision follows concerns about the stringent requirements set by FIFA, particularly regarding economic implications and public impact. The upcoming World Cup will mark several milestones, being the first held in North Africa, the first in Africa since 2010, and the first in Europe since 2018. FIFA initiated the bidding process in 2022, with specific restrictions preventing certain confederations from hosting due to previous tournaments.