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The Region of Murcia is preparing to welcome some of the world's top football teams as the countdown begins to the 2030 FIFA World Cup. With up to six national teams expected to base themselves in the Region during the tournament, football centres in San Pedro del Pinatar, Cartagena, Torre Pacheco and Alhama de Murcia are preparing for what could become one of the biggest sporting opportunities the Region has seen in years.
Spain will co-host the tournament alongside Portugal and Morocco, while a small number of opening matches will also be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. It will also be the biggest World Cup in history, with the competition expanding from 48 teams in 2026 to 64 nations in 2030.
Four venues in the Region of Murcia are expected to feature in the official catalogue of training bases available to competing nations. They include Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar, the Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Resort in Cartagena, DoubleTree by Hilton La Torre Golf & Spa Resort in Torre Pacheco and the Alhama Arena Football Centre, which is currently under construction. A fifth nearby option, La Finca Resort in Algorfa, Alicante province, also forms part of the same network through Pinatar Arena.
National football associations are expected to begin visiting potential training bases from next year before choosing where they want to stay during the tournament. By 2028, the facilities are expected to be fully prepared ahead of the teams making their final decisions.
Preparations are already bringing further investment to the Region's football infrastructure.
At Pinatar Arena, recent improvements include permanent concrete stands replacing temporary seating and new LED floodlights. Plans are also in place for a new gym and refurbished changing rooms.
Meanwhile, work is continuing on the new Alhama Arena development. The first phase includes two football pitches and a five-star hotel with 96 rooms, while a second phase will add another four pitches and a further hotel with around 150 rooms.
The additional facilities will allow several national teams to be based in the Region at the same time, strengthening Murcia's reputation as one of Europe's leading football training destinations.
Hosting international teams is nothing new for Murcia. Football clubs and national squads have been travelling to the region for training camps for many years.
Countries including Scotland, Iceland, England, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Congo and Cape Verde have all used facilities in the Region, while La Manga Club continues its long-standing relationship with Norwegian football.
Club football also remains a major part of the calendar. This month, the women's teams from Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are all expected to train at Pinatar Arena, alongside numerous men's teams from across Europe.
If everything goes to plan, the 2030 World Cup will give Murcia the chance to welcome some of the biggest names in football while showing why the region has become such a popular destination for training camps.
Image: Pinatar Arena Football Club
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