The city of A Coruña has officially abandoned its aspirations to host the World Cup. On Monday, Mayor InĂ©s Rey and Deportivo president Juan Carlos Escotet will announce the city’s withdrawal from the 2030 World Cup hosting bid. This decision comes just two days ahead of an important FIFA visit, making A Coruña the second Spanish city to pull out, following Málaga. Consequently, Vigo now emerges as the city with the best prospects.
Imposing Challenges: Funding and Logistics
Although A Coruña had advanced past the initial stages in 2024, the renovation project for the Riazor stadium—costing over 100 million euros—proved to be untenable. Challenges in securing necessary financing, coupled with pressing mobility and safety concerns, compelled the City Council to withdraw. Recent remarks from RFEF president Rafael Louzán about the “unfinished homework” served as a harbinger of this ultimate decision.
A Diminishing List of Host Cities
This withdrawal further reduces the number of stadiums designated for the tournament, which aims to unite Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, aligning with FIFA’s strategy to centralize the event. Cities like Valencia are now in a stronger position to step in, while A Coruña reluctantly steps back from the opportunity to host once again, having previously been a host in 1982.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.