Vigo mayor says 2030 World Cup will pay back 107.55 million euro investment

Vigo mayor Abel Caballero stated on Thursday that the 107.55 million euros the city plans to invest to become a host venue for the 2030 World Cup will produce income and returns that comfortably exceed the initial outlay. The remarks come amid an ongoing dispute over how to fund the Balaidos stadium works, after the regional government of Galicia showed reluctance to cover part of the bill.

• The total investment planned for Vigo's World Cup bid stands at 107.55 million euros.
• The expansion of the Tribuna stand at Balaidos accounts for 86.72 million of the budget.
• Caballero wants the cost split equally between the city council, the Xunta and the provincial authority, around 35.85 million each.
• The stadium would hold about 43,000 fans during the World Cup and 41,500 for Celta afterwards.
• The Xunta and the provincial authority are demanding a full project and timeline before committing any funds.

How much Balaidos needs to be ready for the 2030 World Cup

The main piece of the project is the demolition of the current Tribuna stand and the construction of a new structure that allows the stadium's capacity to grow. That work is budgeted at 86.72 million euros, with the rest of the investment going to other infrastructure and activities tied to organizing the tournament.

The plan would take Balaidos to a capacity of around 43,000 spectators during the World Cup, in line with FIFA requirements. Once the tournament is over, Celta would have roughly 41,500 seats available for its matches, a significant increase on the current figure.

How the cost would be shared between the authorities

Caballero has put a three-way split on the table. His proposal would see Vigo city council, the Xunta de Galicia and the Pontevedra provincial authority each pay around 35.85 million euros. The spending would be spread over four years, with an annual contribution close to nine million per institution.

The mayor argued that the figure is perfectly affordable for the city council, whose annual budget exceeds 350 million euros. In his view, the economic activity generated by the World Cup and the later use of the facilities will comfortably recover the investment.

The resources and returns the World Cup will generate are going to far exceed the cost of the work.

Future uses of the upgraded stadium

Beyond football, Caballero highlighted that the renovation would allow concerts for up to 45,000 people, positioning Balaidos as a reference for major events in northwest Spain. He also stressed that the sports infrastructure and facilities linked to the tournament would remain in the city for a century.

Vigo has already spent more than 60 million euros on previous improvements to the stadium, so the Tribuna expansion would mark another step in completing the venue's transformation.

The Xunta hits back: no project or timeline means no funding

Ana Ortiz, the Xunta's delegate in Vigo, said the Galician government is willing for the city to host the World Cup and open to an institutional agreement. However, she noted that at the moment there is no project, no timeline and no commitments from all the authorities involved.

Caballero hit back at that stance and called on the Xunta to take part in the funding. He compared Vigo's situation with that of A Coruña, where the regional government was willing to contribute to the Riazor stadium renovation and a tunnel linked to the project. "The Xunta de Galicia has just said it won't pay," the mayor said.

Provincial authority wants the full investment paperwork

The Pontevedra provincial authority has spoken in similar terms. Vice president Luisa Sánchez recalled the funds the institution has already contributed to Balaidos renovations and urged the city council to send the complete documentation on the planned investments as a matter of urgency.

The provincial authority is also asking for a detailed plan of all the work needed for Vigo to be a World Cup host city. The ball is now in the city council's court to present a finished plan that clears up the doubts of the other two administrations.