The Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, is the largest Portuguese sports venue, with a capacity of around 65,000, the Estádio do Dragão, in Porto, and the Estádio José Alvalade, also in the capital, both with approximately 50,000, are the only national venues that meet FIFA's requirements to host World Cup matches.

According to the specifications for World Cup organizations, candidate stadiums must have at least 80,000 seats to host finals and opening ceremonies, 60,000 for games from the quarter-finals onwards and the remaining seats at least 40,000.

In addition to belonging to the 'big' three, these stages have in common that they are heirs of Euro2004, the biggest football competition ever organised in Portugal, having been built to host the tournament.

At that time, Dragão hosted the opening game and Luz the final – in both cases clashes between Portugal and Greece, while the Alvalade hosted the semi-final.