Málaga CF has confirmed where they will host their home matches during the planned renovation of La Rosaleda, set to begin in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The club will move temporarily to Ciudad de Málaga stadium, but not until the 2026/2027 season.

One more year at La Rosaleda

There has been some confusion recently around the timeline of Málaga’s move. The uncertainty stemmed from a statement by Borja Vivas, the city councillor for sports, who implied that the club would begin playing at the new stadium as early as next season. However, this was later clarified as a slip of the tongue. As local newspaper Málaga Hoy explained, By saying next season, Vivas meant the one after next – assuming the current season (2024/2025) is already winding down.

The city quickly cleared up any doubts and officially confirmed that Málaga CF will remain at La Rosaleda through the entire 2025/2026 season. It also revealed that Estadio Ciudad de Málaga will serve as the club’s temporary home during the stadium overhaul, with the move scheduled for the start of the 2026/2027 campaign.

The temporary venue will be adapted for football use, including additional stands that will raise the capacity to 26,000 seats. Importantly, these works will not interfere with the running track, and once the renovation of La Rosaleda is complete, Ciudad de Málaga will return to its original function.

© Miwipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) | Estadio Ciudad de Málaga

Major investment, tight schedule

The modernization of La Rosaleda is a major financial and logistical challenge. Andalusia’s Minister of Culture and Sport, Patricia del Pozo, confirmed that the investment will exceed 200 million €. The sheer scale of the project means that everyone is eager to get the work underway as soon as possible. The government is even considering designating the renovation as a project of regional significance, which would help accelerate the necessary administrative procedures. In January, three institutions signed a joint declaration supporting the Rosaleda 2030 project.

Concerns about meeting deadlines have been raised before, particularly by Málaga’s mayor, Francisco de la Torre. He recently acknowledged that time pressure is very real, though he still believes the project can be delivered on schedule. Design analysis and financing talks are ongoing, with the city already allocating €700,000 to initiate early-stage work. De la Torre also stressed the importance of ensuring the new stadium is fully optimized for sporting events, avoiding complications that could arise from accommodating concerts or other non-sporting uses.

© Matt Rayns - Groundhopper | Estadio La Rosaleda

What is Project Management?

In parallel with preparations to adapt the temporary stadium, the city has already approved the first part of the 2025 budget – €4 million earmarked for Gerencia Municipal de Urbanismo to fund works at Ciudad de Málaga.

An official statement highlighted that, due to the complexity and scale of the entire venture – which includes not just the overhaul of La Rosaleda, but also its surrounding area – a dedicated Project Management team will be established. This team will support the investor with coordination, management, and oversight across all phases of the project, from design through execution and delivery. It will serve as a central command unit to ensure that Rosaleda 2030 stays on track and is completed as planned.