On September 10, a meeting was held at the Palacio de María Pita between the A Coruña City Council and Deportivo. Members of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) were also present at the meeting.

Awaiting the FIFA inspection

The focus of the meeting was the need to unify efforts to promote the city’s candidacy as a host for the 2030 World Cup and to begin preparations for the visit of the FIFA delegation, scheduled for September 24. The City Council expressed its appreciation for the meeting with the club, describing it as a constructive discussion in a friendly atmosphere, where all parties demonstrated full cooperation for this key event. The importance of coordination, collaboration, and cooperation between all stakeholders was emphasized to ensure that hosting the World Cup would be a boost for the city's global image and an opportunity for the club’s growth. A bigger Riazor for a bigger Dépor was the message from A Coruña City Councilor Gonzalo Castro.

© Cristian García

Seeking funding sources

However, Deportivo de La Coruña stated that it does not have the budget or sponsors to cover the costs of any hypothetical works at Estadio Abanca-Riazor but offers full cooperation in their potential execution, once the concerns raised in various meetings are clarified and the Council guarantees the funds needed to carry them out. The Xunta de Galicia has offered to co-finance the renovations, but further funding sources need to be secured. Otherwise, the city could be excluded from the final list.

In light of these concerns, Deportivo will hold another meeting with the local authorities on September 21.However, there is an urgent need to solidify plans, as less than six years remain until the tournament. If the works require action on multiple fronts, both the project and the investment will need to be quickly realized.

© Cristian García