Spain hosts more 2030 World Cup matches than any other country, and Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are its three biggest stages. A fan guide to the stadiums, the cities, transport between them, and what to do on rest days.

This guide covers madrid: the tournament's capital, barcelona: camp nou and the coast, seville: the loudest atmosphere, and travelling between the three cities. Each section explains the topic with concrete examples, so you can use what you learn straight away.

Madrid has two stadiums, the Bernabeu and the Metropolitano, and will host more matches than any other city. The city is the best transport hub in Spain, with high-speed trains to every other host city. Madrid's fan zones will be among the biggest in the tournament, and the city's nightlife runs later than almost anywhere in Europe.

The rebuilt Camp Nou will be one of the largest stadiums in the tournament, holding close to 105,000 fans. Barcelona combines a beach city with a football city, so fans can swim in the morning and watch a match in the evening. The city is more expensive than other Spanish hosts, so book accommodation early, especially near the stadium.

Seville's Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium is famous for its noise, and the city itself is one of the most beautiful in Spain. June temperatures in Seville regularly pass 35 degrees, so evening matches are the ones to target. The city's tapas bars and flamenco shows make it a favourite for fans who want atmosphere beyond the stadium.

High-speed trains connect Madrid and Barcelona in under three hours, and Madrid and Seville in about two and a half hours. Domestic flights are cheap if booked early, but trains are more reliable on match days when airports get crowded. A sensible plan is to base yourself in Madrid and take day trips, because it sits in the middle of the network.