'World's greatest football stadium' finally gets opening date after being abandoned in 2009

Valencia's Nou Mestalla stadium has finally been given an opening date after being abandoned for 16 years. Dubbed the "world's greatest" stadium, the 70,000-seat arena was originally meant to open for the 2009/10 La Liga season.

However, when Valencia were blighted by financial troubles in 2008, questions arose as to whether the Los Ches would ever move into their new home. The six-time La Liga winners racked up monumental debts of around £350million, and failed to find a buyer for the Mestalla - which they still occupy to this day.

The club also saw a £90m bank loan rejected, which seemed to be the final nail in the coffin in terms of the relocation. As a result, plans were put on hold in 2009, and the development has been abandoned ever since.

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That is until it was recently announced that Valencia have secured funding to the tune of £275m which will help them finally complete the construction of the Nou Mestalla - with an aim to rehome in 2027. A statement on the official Valencia website reads: "Valencia CF has successfully secured the full financing for Nou Mestalla — the most significant non-sporting project in the Club’s history.

"Scheduled to open in 2027, Nou Mestalla will serve as a global benchmark for modern stadium developments. The modern state-of-the-art stadium will drive Valencia CF’s growth and unlock new long-term sustainable revenue streams that will strengthen the Club’s influence and competitiveness for decades to come."

Described as a "landmark and legacy project for the city," the stadium will also hope to serve as an "epicentre for sport" across the region. The statement added: "Nou Mestalla is not just a transformative investment for Valencia CF - it will be a landmark and legacy project for the city and is set to become an iconic symbol for Valencia CF fans, benefiting the city of Valencia, its residents, and visitors.

"This new stadium has been designed in line with the world ’s leading multifunctional venues and is expected to multiply the revenue currently generated at the old Mestalla facility. Nou Mestalla will become the epicentre for sport, leisure, and entertainment in the city and throughout the wider Valencia region.

"Built to meet FIFA’s highest stadium classification and featuring over 70,000 seats, nearly 10% of which will be Hospitality seating, transforming every match or event into a premium experience. A wide range of dining, leisure and event-hosting options will turn Nou Mestalla into a year-round entertainment venue which will in turn significantly increase the economic potential beyond the constraints of former Mestalla."

Speaking on the endeavour, President of Valencia CF Kiat Lim said: "This marks a historic milestone for Valencia CF. Securing this landmark financing gives us the green light to deliver Nou Mestalla — a world-class stadium that will power the Club’s growth for generations.

"It is the clearest expression of our long-term commitment to Valencia, and a reflection of the trust and confidence the Club now commands in global financial markets. With this agreement, we are building more than a stadium — we are building the future of Valencia CF."

As a result, the Nou Mestalla could join a whole host of prestigious stadiums which will play host to the 2030 World Cup, which will take place across Spain, Portugal and Morocco - joining the likes of the Bernabeu, Camp Nou, the Estadio da Luz and the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on the list of potential candidates.

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