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While the 2030 FIFA World Cup promises to be a landmark event in football history, its arrival in the Spanish city of San Sebastián is stirring significant local unrest. Named one of the 11 Spanish host cities for the tournament, San Sebastián is set to welcome matches at Estadio Anoeta, home to Real Sociedad. But many residents aren’t celebrating—instead, they’re pushing back.
A coalition of neighborhood associations and advocacy groups has voiced strong opposition to the city's selection, warning that hosting the tournament would deepen an already growing crisis of over-tourism and housing inequality. In an open letter to FIFA, seven groups—including VivaLagunEkin and associations representing several city districts—called on the organization to reconsider the decision.
Concerns Over Tourism, Housing, and Public Space
At the heart of the protest is a sharp critique of San Sebastián’s rapid transformation into a tourism hotspot. Between 2015 and 2024, visitor numbers ballooned by nearly 78%, while short-term accommodations jumped 69%. Housing costs, meanwhile, have risen nearly 50%, squeezing out residents and transforming public spaces into commercial zones, according to the associations.
“The World Cup will only make things worse,” the letter states, accusing local and global authorities of prioritizing tourism profits over the wellbeing of everyday citizens. They argue that the mega-event would accelerate gentrification, deepen the housing crisis, and reorient urban planning toward the needs of short-term visitors.
Infrastructure Warnings and FIFA’s Own Report
Even FIFA itself has flagged concerns. A report on the Spain-Morocco-Portugal bid notes that San Sebastián lacks adequate accommodation for the projected number of World Cup visitors. While neighboring towns like Biarritz and Bayonne may be used to manage overflow, local groups fear that the influx will overwhelm local infrastructure and services.
The term “collapse” has been used both by critics and by FIFA’s own assessment—albeit with the latter framing it as a “slight risk.” For many residents, that risk feels anything but slight.
Transparency Questions and Local Tensions
The selection of San Sebastián has also come under fire for its opacity. Critics point to the unexpected exclusion of Vigo, which some considered a more suitable venue. Changes in FIFA’s scoring criteria were never fully explained, and the decision has prompted demands for a review from Vigo’s mayor, Abel Caballero.
The controversy has extended to local leadership as well. San Sebastián’s mayor, Eneko Goia, dismissed the letter’s concerns, arguing that international events benefit the city’s global profile. “If it were up to them, the city would have zero international visibility,” he said.
A Call for “Tourism Degrowth”
The protesting associations see their campaign as part of a broader movement toward “tourism degrowth”—a strategy aimed at scaling back tourism to preserve the quality of life for residents. They argue that hosting a global mega-event like the World Cup flies in the face of this approach.
Mass protests in late 2024 echoed similar sentiments, aligning with wider unrest across Spain over unchecked tourism. The associations claim that continued reliance on events like the World Cup will only benefit a privileged few, while worsening everyday conditions for the majority.
Next Steps Unclear
FIFA has yet to formally respond to the letter. But the growing pushback in San Sebastián poses a critical question for the organization: Can a successful World Cup be hosted in a city where the local community openly rejects it?
As the debate unfolds, San Sebastián may become a symbol of a larger global conversation—one where cities reckon with the real costs of fame, visibility, and mass tourism.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / jorono, Pexels / Bráulio jardim, Unsplash / Pierre Archi
