Elche in the running for another Spain national team clash
The latest projections place a Spain-Cyprus qualifier on the calendar for September 12, with the Royal Spanish Football Federation at the helm of arrangements. The vote in the federation’s governing bodies confirmed that the match would be staged at the Nuevo Los Cármenes Municipal Stadium in Granada, a decision reported by Europa Press and aligned with ongoing discussions surrounding a potential return to Elche’s Martinez Valero stadium, one of the club’s enduring ambitions during its Centenary celebration year.
Elche keeps the dream alive for a national team appearance
The national side last played at Martinez Valero on September 11, 2018, defeating Croatia by six goals in a match that left a lasting impression on fans in Elche. Since then, there has been no subsequent appearance. In 2023, as Elche CF celebrated its Centenary, hopes resurfaced about inviting the national team back to the Franjiverde home ground, with Elche presenting a formal request to the RFEF.
Elche presses for a centennial-era nod from the Spanish squad
Negotiations moved forward with momentum, raising the possibility that Martínez Valero could host a qualifying fixture. The context also referenced a separate recent milestone: Euro 2024 in Germany, where Spain faced Norway in a match held on March 25 at Malaga’s Rose Garden, underscoring the federation’s intent to schedule high-profile fixtures across diverse venues.
There remained a sense that the centenary, while meaningful, did not alone secure a national team game. According to Europa Press, the RFEF committee continued to coordinate with the Royal Andalusian Football Association to align plans with regional authorities, including the Junta de Andalucía and Granada City Council, all working toward a concrete, mutually beneficial arrangement for a future national appearance.
The selection process and timing came after a series of discussions led by the mayor of Granada, who engaged with regional tourism, culture, and sports officials to explore hosting a national team match in the city. The dialogue reflected a broader agreement among federation leadership and regional institutions, emphasizing a common goal: bring top-level football events to Granada and strengthen ties with the community and its supporters.
Granada as a staging ground two years on
Should the plan proceed, the Spanish national team would return to Granada after more than two and a half years away. The venue has a track record of notable performances; for instance, Nuevo Los Cármenes welcomed a historical clash in March 2021 when Spain faced Greece in a World Cup qualifying context that helped set the stage for the tournament cycle leading to Qatar. The prospect of another high-stakes fixture in this same stadium resonates with local fans and regional authorities alike, who see it as a catalyst for local engagement and tourism during a busy international calendar.
Local leadership expressed a sense of pride and responsibility in hosting events of such magnitude. The mayor highlighted the importance of ongoing cooperation with the Junta de Andalucía to ensure that Granada continues to attract high-caliber sports endeavors. The plan aligns with a broader strategy to keep Granada in the national football spotlight and to demonstrate that the city can successfully host matches that involve the national team, fostering unity among supporters and stakeholders across the region.