source: SER; author: Miguel Ciołczyk Garcia
“Two stadiums, one in the south and one in the north, are under threat.” The Spanish journalist’s words are causing concern on Riazor and La Rosaleda. The return of works at Nou Mestalla and the Spanish federation’s diplomatic offensive could lead to the swap of one of the two stadiums.
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While I breathe, I hope, the ancient Romans used to say. Two millennia later, this idea is still alive on the Mediterranean Sea, and its main adherents are Valencia CF and the city authorities. Surprisingly, after FIFA had already approved the list of host cities on which they were not included, they got their best chance to repeat the 1982 success.
Back then, the Spanish national team played three group stage matches at Mestalla. Today, the new president of the Spanish federation (RFEF) Rafael Louzán wants history to repeat for Valencia, but with the new Mestalla replacing the old venue. He proved his support for Valencia’s candidacy, declared in recent weeks, this time with a telling gesture: just a few days after the return of works on the new Murcielagos’ stadium, Louzán visited the construction site. I am the first ally [of this candidacy – editor’s note],
he stated.
But hours before his visit, SER journalist Antón Meana said that two Spanish host cities are in real danger: one in the south, the other in the north,
although he pointed out that one of the Moroccan stadiums could also fall out. While the name of the African venue is a mystery, no one doubts which cities in Spain are involved.
©RFEF| RFEF President Rafael Louzán has been advocating the inclusion of Valencia in the list of hosts since December. Pictured is Louzán (third from left) during his visit to Nou Mestalla
The northern
city is A Coruña, whose project of Estadio Riazor received the worst rating of all in the FIFA report: 3.4 out of 5. To make matters worse, Deportivo, which plays at the stadium, does not support the plan, and the key private financing for the candidacy has still not been announced despite assurances from Mayor Inés Rey that it is already assured.
The situation is not much better for the city on the south,
which is Malaga. Similarly to A Coruña, their project to redevelop La Rosaleda is in the planning stage. Rising costs and the position of the club, which will most likely have to move out for the duration of the work, put the bid into question. The poor rating given by the international federation, 3.7, does not inspire optimism either. Local media outlets like 101tv Málaga and Málaga Hoy asseure that of the record, some politicians consider that the best solution would be to withdraw the city’s candidacy.
Such a drastic change in the situation was obviously triggered by the return of the machinery to Nou Mestalla construction site. And while confidence in Valencia’s management is still very low, with even mayor María José Catalá saying that despite her willingness to host the 2030 World Cup, she will not make it easier for the club to complete the construction, the clear support from the RFEF lends credibility to the city’s role as host. Valencia will host the 2030 World Cup,
assures Louzán. Hope has been revived in Valencia, while dark clouds have gathered over A Coruña and Malaga.
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