"It's a matter of justice," Rafael Louzán said, speaking of Valencia's World Cup aspirations. Club authorities agree with the federation's president and assure that work on Nou Mestalla is going according to plan. What is missing, however, is a clear endorsement from the city hall itself.

All according to the plan

It's a mockery, Lim’s fraud, this accusation was levelled at Valencia's owner last Wednesday by Papi Robles, spokeswoman for the opposition Compromis party, in the face of no visible progress on the Nou Mestalla construction site. The club decided not to leave these words without an answer.

The first phase has been clearly defined in the calendar and consists of gathering materials and machinery in order to start work, noted Murcielagos’ spokesman, Javier Solís, in a brief interview with Movistar+ before Saturday's match against Atletico (0:3). As we explained last week, the construction schedule actually foresees preliminary work until September, although the first architectural works inside Nou Mestalla will start in May.

We are very hopeful that Valencia will host the next World Cup because it is very important for Spain and the city. We are very optimistic and we are counting on the announcements that Valencia is under consideration to materialise, Solís added.

© Amunt Mestalla | The ongoing preliminary work at Nou Mestalla mainly involves repairing damage in the structure.

"A matter of justice"

The spokesman thus referred to the words of Spanish federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzán, who in an interview with Las Provincias stated that he would defend to the end Valencia's candidacy. I am convinced that Valencia will host the 2030 World Cup. [...]It is a matter of justice, Louzán said.

Although Valencia's board has lost public support and the trust of politicians in recent years, Louzán has no concerns about their integrity. At the moment they are working well [on the World Cup - editor's note] I have full confidence in the club, he assured. On Monday, after a meeting with the head of the Supreme Council for Sport (CSD), he relayed instead that the latter wants Valencia and Vigo to host the World Cup, although in the case of Vigo it will be more difficult.

The most interesting thread is, however, Louzán's assurances from two weeks ago that one World Cup host city is willing to cede its place to Valencia. It is still unclear who this is about, but everything points to Malaga or A Coruña, as both cities still have no final projects or announced funding.

© RFEF | Rafael Louzán has been supporting Valencia's World Cup aspirations since the start of his presidency. Pictured here answering questions after a meeting with the CSD president.

A significant silence

I hope that everyone fulfils their responsibilities to make sure that the 2030 World Cup is played in Valencia, Louzán added, pointing out that the host city is not only the stadium but also the entire urban infrastructure.

The city, however, is very subdued in its declarations, which are made infrequently anyway. In January, the mayor, María José Catalá, said that we have always defended our candidacy, although she stipulated that she would wait until the Nou Mestalla was completed before assessing it. I hope they fulfill their commitments, she commented on the club’s intentions to finish the stadium.