We already know the five Spanish venues that will be on the final list of arenas to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, something that Valencia still cannot be sure of. However, the city and the club want to do everything possible to complete the aborted investment.

An unfinished stadium still awaits in Valencia

This spring we wondered when it would be possible to resume construction of Nou Mestalla. The structure has had a reinforced concrete skeleton since 2009, but no further work has been carried out on it for 14 years. All because of Valencia CF's financial troubles. At the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the recognised Spanish club was hit by massive turbulence, which did not allow work to continue. Since then, the facility is still unfinished, with the media speculation as to when its completion will be possible.

The light in the tunnel appeared in 2021. At that time, LaLiga signed a fund deal with CVC Capital Partners. This meant a massive cash injection for teams, including the popular Los Murciélagos. More than two years have passed since that event, but there is still a lack of specifics regarding the further construction of Nou Mestalla. The impetus for renewed action was supposed to come from Spain, Portugal and Morocco's joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup. When FIFA confirmed that these countries would host the event, talk of a new arena in Valencia also returned.

© Valencia CF

What's next for Valencia's new stadium?

Media reports from the Iberian peninsula clearly indicate that the ball is in the club's court. The Valencia City Council is ready to negotiate with Los Murciélagos authorities and confirm the urban plans passed a dozen years ago, but the investor must first resume work on the site. Such a decision is linked to the fact that Valencia CF's owner, Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim has not, since taking over the club in 2014, taken any concrete action on the return of workers to the construction site. Currently, no one from the city government is going to go along with Lim unless he himself shows initiative. Valencia mayor María José Catalá has championed the idea of the 2030 World Cup coming to the city, but does not want to do so at any cost.

It is unofficially known that Valencia CF has secured further investment funding of €80 million, which was obtained through La Liga's partnership with CVC. The rapid resumption of the works will give a clear signal to the Spanish Royal Football Federation (RFEF) that Valencia should be included in the final list of host cities. The city council will then adopt a resolution upholding the decision of the previous term's councillors to maintain the existing urban use of the land around the venue. It will then be possible to re-approve the parcelling out of the land on which the Nou Mestalla is being built. This will provide the opportunity for commercial use.

© Valencia CF