HIBAPRESS – Agencies
The municipality of La Coruña announced on Monday, March 16, the withdrawal of its bid to host matches from the 2030 World Cup finals, preferring to prioritize a sustainable modernization project for the Riazor stadium and its surrounding infrastructure.
The mayor of the city, Inés Rey, confirmed during a press conference that this decision falls within the framework of a "strategic vision aimed at sustainable development and serving the public interest of the city of La Coruña." She said, "We have prepared a long-term project designed for the city and its residents. The initial goal was for our city to have the honor of hosting World Cup matches, but not at any cost." She pointed out that the municipality had notified the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) of its decision to withdraw its bid, following an agreement with the main shareholders of Deportivo La Coruña to jointly begin a complete renovation of the Riazor sports complex, which includes the stadium, the sports palace and its attached facilities. The mayor of the city explained that the technical and logistical requirements imposed to host World Cup matches, especially increasing the stadium's capacity from 32,500 seats to 48,000 seats, made continuing the bid "infeasible", given the actual needs of the club and the financial balance of the city.
