Gran Canaria has begun to chart its course towards the 2030 FIFA World Cup and, on Tuesday, established the Gran Canaria Bid Committee, a body that will bring together public authorities, private companies and social partners in working groups to develop the bid.
With the FIFA committee’s visit on 26 November on the horizon, the meeting has enabled work to begin on setting up committees in the areas of mobility, transport, accommodation, infrastructure and new technologies, going beyond the football aspect and the refurbishment of the Gran Canaria Stadium, the contract for which was recently awarded to the OHLA-Sando joint venture.
Speaking to the media following the committee’s formation, the president of the Gran Canaria Island Council, Antonio Morales, emphasised that, since 2024, «the necessary steps have been taken to complete all the essential stages» in Gran Canaria’s development as a World Cup host in 2030.
Gran Canaria: Stadium refurbishment and a visit from FIFA boost the bid
This has been demonstrated in the awarding of the contract for the refurbishment of the Gran Canaria Stadium, a venue that «will be an extraordinary architectural landmark», but also «a cornerstone of social, economic and sporting development for the city and the island».
Morales pointed out that FIFA’s visit to Gran Canaria coincides with the Evaluation Committee’s assessment of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as a candidate for European Capital of Culture in 2031, which demonstrates that Gran Canaria is «an island buzzing» with cultural and sporting activity, but also shows that it is capable of «tackling major challenges» as an island territory.
Las Palmas is banking on two major events
The mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Carolina Darias, has stated that Gran Canaria has taken «a step towards consolidation» in its bid to host the 2030 World Cup, thanks to the «clear and evident» commitment of the whole of Gran Canaria’s society, from the public to the private sector.
«This committee represents a further demonstration, through decisive and firm steps, of the capacity that we have here in the island’s towns and cities to host the World Cup,» said the mayor, who on that same 26 November will be submitting the ‚Rebellion of Geography‘ bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2031.
The mayor has stated that, far from being a setback, the fact that the visits by both evaluation committees are taking place at the same time «is a great opportunity to demonstrate that we have the capacity to host two major events that will mark a turning point in the city’s history»: «The World Cup in 2030 and the European Capital of Culture in 2031».
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