Work on the modernisation of La Cartuja in Seville is gathering pace. The first phase of the project, which aims to increase its capacity to 70,000 seats, will be completed next April. The plan is expected to bring Andalusia's dream of hosting the 2030 World Cup a step closer.

Scope of work for first phase

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Arturo Bernal, stresses that the redevelopment of the stadium is a strategic element in Andalusia's bid to host the World Cup. Estadio La Cartuja, along with La Rosaleda in Málaga, is the cornerstone of the Andalusian regional government's proposal to FIFA.

The redevelopment of La Cartuja stadium has been divided into two phases. The first phase has now begun, the main aim of which is to increase the capacity of the stadium to 70,000 spectators by lowering the level of the pitch by five metres. These measures will make La Cartuja the third largest stadium in Spain, second only to legendary arenas such as Santiago Bernabéu and Camp Nou.

At this stage, the project is being carried out on a budget of €12 million and is scheduled for completion in April 2025, rather than February 2025 as originally planned. The work includes the creation of a new level under the existing stand area, which will allow the stadium's capacity to be increased without changing its overall mass.

© Junta de Andalucía

Key element of Andalusia's strategy

The redevelopment of La Cartuja stadium is part of a larger sports strategy being pursued by the Andalusian government, which is seeking to establish the region as a centre for international sporting events. Bernal points out that the Seville stadium has already played an important role in hosting matches of the Spanish national team and now has the chance to become one of the key venues for the 2030 World Cup.

It is worth mentioning that the stadium redevelopment project is also a response to previous neglect of the stadium's technical condition. In the past, the stadium was declared a technical ruin by the previous government. It was only with a change in regional leadership that the facility could be restored to functionality. We are reclaiming this stadium to fulfil a dream we have in Andalusia says Bernal, noting that the implementation of these plans is the result of cooperation between all levels of government.

© Junta de Andalucía