Hungary, with Budapest as its capital, often serves as a dependable backdrop for major events. It has shown a clear preference for swimming venues, hosting two World Cups in the past five years and another planned for 2027, along with three European Championships in the last 17 years.
Relating to
- The schedules of the Spaniards on the opening day of the World Cup
- The big duels of the World Cup in Budapest
The nation is home to prominent teams such as Sopron in women’s basketball, which claimed the Euroleague title in 2021-22, and Györi ETO, a five-time Champions League winner in women’s handball. Magyar teams often push to complete unfinished business. The World Athletics Championships are set to begin this Saturday, featuring a beautiful, modern stadium that has received finishing touches this week.
Álvaro Martín: “I’m coming to the World Cup in the best way possible”
David Rubio
The question arises why this facility was built. After two failed attempts to host the Olympic race, Hungary chose to replace the Ferenc Puskás Stadium, the historic Népstadion that hosted the 1966 and 1998 European Athletics Championships. It was replaced by the contemporary Puskás Arena, completed in 2019 without an athletics track. In December 2018 Budapest was selected as the site for the 2023 World Championships in Athletics. At that time, the construction of the complex was already in progress and the city was prepared to break away from a flat track.
The objective was to create a space highly devoted to athletics. The initial plan envisioned a 55,000-seat stadium, but practicality gradually shaped the project. After the World Cup, attendance was expected to settle around 14,531, with the final reaching 37,326 if the upper levels were eventually removed.
The primary venue for the World Cup in Budapest is part of a larger project that included a training track and another facility on an island within the city. The project carried a substantial price tag and brought inflation concerns in Hungary, with overall costs approaching 658 million euros.
The National Athletics Center (Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ) was officially handed over on June 17 and hosted the Hungarian Championship on July 7 and 8, crowning Anita Marton as the first winner in the new facility. This moment stood as a meaningful test of the look and feel of what happened in Barcelona in 2010, where Estadi Lluís Companys served as a trial run for the Europeans.
As the event drew closer, surrounding areas and the press zone received upgrades, decorated with photographs and images capturing legendary World Cup moments. The installation featured detailed attention, including access stairs painted in the event colors and the message Witness the Wonder in Spanish. Spain aimed to bring home two medals from Eugene.
Renowned Catalan coach Ricardo Diéguez, known for his work with Barça and the short relay squad, affirmed that the track was fast and responsive. Athletes practiced on a Friday morning with a positive mood, and ample space around the course allowed photographers to work freely. The massive Media Center and the Photo Center, along with the mixed zone, appeared well planned, ready to support media and athletes alike.
The only challenge noted is the facility’s location along the Danube, which can bring higher humidity and sweat during competition. Compared with Hayward Field in Eugene 2022, the heat wave forecast for Monday promises to complicate the schedule for middle and long distance runners. An abundance of tiny flies on the runway added a minor nuisance for those in attendance.
In sum, the Budapest World Cup project combines iconic history with modern infrastructure and a clear focus on showcasing athletic excellence. The venue design emphasizes spectator experience, media readiness, and competitive performance, reinforcing Hungary’s reputation as a reliable host for major athletics events.