A Coruña withdraws 2030 World Cup bid, boosting Nou Mestalla hopes | OneFootball

A Coruña has pulled out of its bid to host the 2030 World Cup to prioritise a long-term refurbishment of Riazor. The City Council of A Coruña announced the decision on Monday after reaching an agreement with Deportivo and the provincial authority.

The plan will jointly modernise the entire Riazor sports complex, covering the stadium, the Sports Palace and surrounding facilities for the club, its supporters and the city. It is framed as a decades-long project tailored to local needs.

Hosting the World Cup was considered unviable given FIFA requirements beyond raising capacity from 32,500 to 48,000, including VIP areas and space distribution, particularly for the club. The withdrawal has already been communicated to FIFA.

A coordination committee with Deportivo will now develop the details of an ambitious overhaul intended to integrate Riazor into daily city life and generate year-round sporting, social and cultural activity. The stadium opened in 1944, staged matches at the 1982 World Cup and last underwent a major expansion in 1998 with new end stands.

On 19 July 2024, the initial list of venues included Anoeta, Camp Nou, Gran Canaria, La Cartuja, La Rosaleda, Metropolitano, Nueva Romareda, RCDE Stadium, Riazor, San Mamés and Santiago Bernabéu. With La Rosaleda and now Riazor stepping aside, the door could open for Valencia’s Nou Mestalla and Vigo’s Balaídos, both of which have expressed interest. The 2030 tournament will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three matches in Asunción, Montevideo and Buenos Aires to mark the centenary.

Source: Superdeporte