2030 World Cup stadium site still a muddy wasteland as delayed project pushed back again

Jul 12, 2026 - 11:15

Paraguay is due to host the World Cup for the first time ever in 2030, but there are major concerns over a lack of progress.

FIFA confirmed the South American nation would land one match in December 2024, with the centenary edition being played across six countries and three continents.

Paraguay has a gran vision but time is running out

The Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb Stadium was unveiled six months later by Paraguayan team Club Olimpia, with the ageing Manuel Ferreira Stadium to be torn down.

In its place, a 46,000-seat arena with superb facilities for fans and dignitaries was supposed to show off a bright new future for Paraguayan football.

A 2027 completion date was set and demolition was completed in 2025, but per Stadium DB, the site is still a mud-caked wilderness.

Work ground to a halt on the stadium — named after former Olimpia president Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb — and the club claimed the project would be wrapped by 2028.

That target has since been pushed back another year, leaving just a 12-month gap until the tournament.

Why is Paraguay hosting one 2030 World Cup game?

Spain, Portugal and Morocco were announced as co-hosts in 2023.

But the first three matches will take place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

It has been 100 years since the first World Cup and FIFA is commemorating the anniversary with a brief tour of South America.

The first ever tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930, which was won by the hosts.

Argentina lost in the final, while the South American football confederation CONMEBOL is based in Paraguay.

View Tweet: https://t.co/fj0VMWYC45

The stadium will be the best in the country

It is the oldest soccer confederation in the world and the only one that existed at the time of the first World Cup.

“In today’s divided world, where it seems that nobody can agree any more on anything, to be able to agree on something like that is definitely an incredible message of unity and positivity,” embattled FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said at the time having also announced Saudi Arabia landing the 2034 edition. “And we need these messages today.

“The FIFA World Cup is unique, and it is a unique catalyst as well for positive social change and unity because these tournaments, 2030, the celebration, 2034.

“They are tournaments to unite, not to divide. They are tournaments, of course, to discuss, to debate and to act.

“But most importantly, today, today is a day of unity and a day of celebration.

“Seven countries have won their World Cup today. Congratulations to Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Saudi Arabia.

2030 World Cup stadiums

Morocco

Adrar Stadium, Agadir – Capacity: 46,000
Hassan II Stadium, Casablanca – Capacity: 115,000
Fez Stadium, Fez – Capacity: 55,800
Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh – Capacity: 45,860
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat – Capacity: 69,500
Tangier Grand Stadium, Tangier – Capacity: 75,500

Portugal

Estadio da Luz, Lisbon – Capacity: 80,000
Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon – Capacity: 52,095
Estadio do Dragao, Porto – Capacity: 50,033

Spain

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 105,000
RCDE Stadium, Barcelona – Capacity: 40,500
San Mames, Bilbao – Capacity: 53,331
Estadio Gran Canaria, Las Palmas – Capacity: 44,500
Bernabeu, Madrid – Capacity: 83,186
Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid – Capacity: 70,692
Anoeta Stadium, San Sebastian – Capacity: 42,300
Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville – Capacity: 70,000
Nueva Romareda, Zaragoza – Capacity: 43,110

“This is your day. So you should celebrate and we, we celebrate, of course, with you.

“And you, the 211 FIFA Member Associations that I can see on a giant screen in front of me, you are uniting the world.

“You are uniting the world truly, through football, because, of course, football unites the world.”

The next battle will be over hosting rights for the final, as Spain and Moroccan both state thier cases.

Paraguay bosses also have work to do, but questions were raised over whether Mexico’s Estadio Azteca would be ready for 2026 and the iconic arena didn’t disappoint.

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