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Fungus Outbreak Threatens La Liga Season Opener
12 Aug
Summary
- La Liga officials inspecting Celta Vigo's stadium due to a suspected fungus outbreak.
- Celta Vigo's opening match against Osasuna on Sunday night is at risk.
- The stadium is undergoing renovations and is slated for 2030 World Cup use.
La Liga officials will conduct a pitch inspection at Celta Vigo's Estadio de Balaidos within the next 24 hours to assess the impact of a suspected fungus outbreak. The league is concerned about the playing surface's condition ahead of Celta Vigo's scheduled opening match of the 2026-27 season against Osasuna on Sunday night. Reports indicate the fungus has damaged the pitch, leading Celta Vigo to request a postponement. However, their opponents, Osasuna, are reportedly agreeable to playing the fixture as planned.
This situation arises as the 24,870-capacity stadium in Vigo has been undergoing extensive renovations for over a decade. It is designated as one of the Spanish venues to co-host the 2030 World Cup, alongside Portugal and Morocco. Upon completion, its capacity is expected to increase significantly to between 40,000 and 44,000.
Notably, Celta Vigo had previously declined an option to postpone this match due to striker Borja Iglesias's participation in the World Cup final with Spain. Meanwhile, three other La Liga matches on the opening weekend have already been rescheduled due to players' involvement in the World Cup final.
