The idea is ambitious, but it seems to have real potential—especially considering that Portugal will be one of the co-hosts of the upcoming 2030 FIFA World Cup , alongside Spain and Morocco.
The starting whistle has already blown, and this will be one of the largest themed amusement parks in Europe, featuring various types of entertainment centered on the beautiful game—soccer.
The Ribatejo region—more specifically, Santarém— will be the site of this mega-park, which will be called “Viva Mundo,” and it also aims to be the first theme park on the planet dedicated, in a comprehensive and immersive way, to soccer.
What can you expect from “Viva Mundo”?
From what we already know, based on the information being released (bit by bit) in various media outlets, the grounds of this mega-park will cover an area of 80 hectares, which is equivalent to about 112 soccer fields.
To ensure that visitors view this theme park not merely as a stopover but as a full-fledged vacation destination, it’s also known that various entertainment facilities for the whole family are being planned , including:
- 28 state-of-the-art attractions
- An arena for 4,000 people
- A 300-room hotel
- An interactive “Fan Zone”
According to our findings, all the attractions at the mega-park will be divided into six themed areas, five of which will guide visitors through a cultural narrative: the main entrance, memory, flavors, fans, and the show, with the sixth area serving as the climax of the entire experience, converging on Football World— a structure that will be located around a huge central lake.
Santarém is the best location for “Viva Mundo”
The preliminary investment for this mega-park is estimated at 450 million euros, and the choice of Santarém is expected to offer a range of transportation options for both domestic and international visitors.
Santarém is located at a major hub for road and rail connections, with the A1—the main highway linking Lisbon to Porto—passing very close by; not to mention its proximity to both the current and future Lisbon airports. As for international access, Badajoz Airport is just over 2 hours and 30 minutes away, making this location an ideal hub for both Iberian and global markets.
The “2030 World Cup” factor and the opening date
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, you can already schedule your visit to “Viva Mundo” for April 29, 2030 (Monday), just over a month before the start of the next FIFA World Cup, scheduled for June 8 and 9, 2030.
The goal is quite clear: to capitalize on the wave of sports tourists and passionate fans who will “flood” the Iberian Peninsula this summer, highlighting the mega-park in Santarém as a point of interest offering significant added value.
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