Spanish club Deportivo de la Coruña has backed out of the opportunity to host matches at the 2030 World Cup, despite having already invested heavily in its stadium. Following this summer’s North American tournament, the next tournament will be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Initially, the Riazor Stadium in La Coruña was chosen as one of the venues, on the basis that the stadium’s capacity would be expanded from the current 32,490 to the FIFA-mandated 40,000 capacity requirement. The original proposal was to increase the stadium’s capacity to 48,000.
Work has already begun on strengthening the stadium, with the club spending around £100m. However, it has now been announced that the redevelopment will be scaled back and, as a result, it will be withdrawing from hosting responsibilities.
“We are making significant improvements to the stadium with the clear aim of providing a better match experience for our truly deserving fans,” club president Juan Carlos Escottet said in a statement.
“Deportivo’s owners have made an extraordinary effort, having already invested over €100 million over the past two years, primarily to improve the club’s financial health and build a competitive team.
“Thinking about doubling that capacity would not only be impractical but would also lead to a significant reduction in revenue due to excess capacity during the construction period.
“It will require a huge level of investment given other social needs.
“I see no financial justification for doubling the stadium’s capacity when there is no need to do so. This is a sports venue and therefore should be treated as such.”
La Coruña plays in the second division of Spanish football. The team is second in the league and aiming to return to La Liga, the championship they won in the 1999/2000 season.
It remains to be seen whether a new stadium will be chosen by the host nation. In Spain, the Bernabéu, Camp Nou, Wanda Metropolitano and Athletic Club’s Anoeta Stadium were selected.
In Portugal, the match will be played at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz and Sporting CP’s Jose Alvalade. In Morocco, the new Hassan II Stadium, which can accommodate 115,000 fans, is under construction.
