Former Champions League stadium looks unrecognisable in stunning renovation plans ahead of World Cup
STUNNING images of the new Estadio Riazor have been unveiled ahead of a huge renovation project.
The ground is set to be used as a venue for the 2030 World Cup.
Second tier Spanish side Deportivo de La Coruna call the stadium home.
It hosted Champions League matches as recently as 2004 when the club went on a memorable run to the semi-final and it already has World Cup experience, having been used for three games in 1982.
And with the tournament returning to Spain, the city of A Coruna is hoping to be selected once again.
In their bid to bring the World Cup back to the northern Galicia region, chiefs have unveiled plans to make the Estadio Riazor a state-of-the-art arena.
The current 32,490 seats will be increased to 48,015 and a new roof will be put in place.
An extra tier will be added to the main stand and the pitch will also be lowered.
A new underground car park will be built and there will be space for at least 1,765 fans in hospitality.
The iconic tower that overlooks the stadium from behind the goal will be preserved in a nod to it’s classic look.
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Spain's World Cup stadiums
- Anoeta (San Sebastian)
- Camp Nou (Barcelona)
- Gran Canaria (Las Palmas)
- Estadio La Cartuja (Seville)
- The Rose Garden (Malaga)
- Metropolitan (Madrid)
- New Romareda (Zaragoza)
- RCDE Stadium (Barcelona, Cornella-El Prat)
- Riazor (A Coruna)
- San Mames (Bilbao)
- Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid)
According to stadium chiefs, the construction has an estimated cost of £53m.
And they are confident they will be given the green light over a rival project in nearby town Vigo due to the stadium’s good transport links and location in the heart of the city.
Estadio Riazor has been the home of Deportivo since 1944 and it was last modernised six years ago when the roof fell into disrepair.