La Coruña is set to become the second Spanish city to step back from the list of host cities for the 2030 World Cup, that Spain will co‑organize alongside Morocco and Portugal, Spanish media reported.
The decision follows the earlier withdrawal of Malaga, further narrowing Spain’s hosting roster, according to Spanish daily AS
The timing precedes the arrival of a FIFA inspection delegation scheduled for March 18, tasked with reviewing progress on required upgrades.
AS reports that no significant improvements have been made since July, when the city was initially selected as a host venue.
The municipality has secured neither private investment nor financial support from regional or provincial institutions, and disagreements between the club and city authorities have further stalled plans, it said.
Riazor currently seats 32,471 spectators, well below FIFA’s minimum requirement of 40,000 for World Cup matches.
The withdrawal follows that of Malaga, whose mayor Francisco de la Torre said the city chose to prioritize the needs of local club Malaga CF over the disruptions and financial strain that major stadium renovations would impose.
Spain initially proposed eleven host cities; with La Coruña and Malaga out, nine remain: Camp Nou (Barcelona), Stage Front Stadium (Barcelona), San Mamés (Bilbao), Reale Arena (San Sebastián), Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid), Metropolitano (Madrid), La Cartuja (Seville), La Romareda (Zaragoza), and Gran Canaria (Las Palmas).