AF Porto prepares for 2030 World Cup with €8 million investment

"114 years after its founding, the Porto Football Association [AF Porto] finally has its own sports facility," highlighted president José Manuel Neves in an interview with A BOLA. Neves has led the association for six years and has been involved with it since 1988.

"Until about a year ago, we were practically living out of a suitcase. Now we have our own working hub," he celebrated, just hours ahead of Saturday's inauguration of the second phase of the AF Porto Training Centre in Prelada. The ceremony is set to be attended by Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) head Pedro Proença, League president Reinaldo Teixeira, and a government representative, among others.

The long-awaited new development features two natural grass pitches. "We previously only had one synthetic pitch in operation. Now we have a full-size pitch meeting official FIFA dimensions and another dedicated to goalkeeper training, which is in high demand and deeply needed nowadays," he explained, already looking ahead to phase three: "Next will come a building spanning roughly 3,000 square metres, complete with changing rooms, dining areas, an athlete treatment clinic, and more..."

The target is to have this third phase completed in time for the 2030 World Cup. "The final stage of construction will wrap up in 2029. We want this to serve as support infrastructure for the World Cup, whether for national teams or match officials to train here. We want to be part of the solution, offering yet another top-tier hub at the service of the 2030 World Cup," the official stressed.

The total investment, which "stands at around eight million euros including the third phase", was planned primarily with the welfare of the association's "athletes, referees, officials, and staff" in mind: "Today we oversee around 550 clubs, close to 50,000 athletes, 1,000 referees, and 1,500 matches per week. To manage all this, everyone needs proper preparation, and these facilities, designed for the AF Porto family, make that possible."

The Porto Football Association did not take on this ambitious project alone. Financially, it was a collective effort. "The association invested some of its own funds, but the FPF also helped. Furthermore, all 18 municipalities across the Porto district contributed funding that allowed us to get to this point," José Manuel Neves acknowledged.

However, the collaboration began much earlier with other key institutions. The AF Porto president made sure to single out the Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto and the Porto City Council for their crucial roles.

"This land did not belong to us. Surface rights were granted by the city council and Santa Casa. About four years ago, I told then-mayor Rui Moreira and the head of Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto, António Tavares, that we were looking for a venue and finding it extremely difficult. One day the phone rang, and the head of Santa Casa told me: 'President, we might have a solution for you.' When we started working on the blueprint, we realized that part of the plot belonged to the Porto City Council. We spoke with Rui Moreira, who was immediately ready to help make it happen," he recalled gratefully.

Now, the hope is that cultural authorities will support turning the AF Porto Training Centre into a tourist attraction as well. There is good reason for it: beyond its new sporting role, the site holds considerable historical and cultural value for the city of Porto.

"This beautiful 17-hectare park with its trees and green spaces is classified heritage. We want this tower designed by Nicolau Nasoni — who also designed the Clérigos Tower — to be preserved and integrated into a tourist trail starting at Clérigos, passing through Nasoni's various estates, and ending right here. Cultural authorities are open to reviewing and considering this," he assured.

Far beyond football, José Manuel Neves described the complex as "a space open to the city, the municipality, the district, and the region, where people can breathe and enjoy both art and culture."