Cardiff may yet join the Euro 2020 party

CARDIFF’S Principality Stadium, host venue for the Champions League final on Saturday, still has an outside chance of staging games at Euro 2020 despite having missed out when UEFA made their original selection.

There is considerable doubt whether Brussels can continue as one of the chosen 13 venues as its proposed Eurostadium in Grimbergen, just north of the Belgian capital, has yet to be built after the intended tenant club Anderlecht pulled out. The issue is expected to be raised at UEFA’s executive meeting in Wales tomorrow.

If Brussels withdraws, having already unveiled its host city logo, the Principality Stadium is the obvious replacement, provided it can fit in with the way the groups in the tournament will be allocated. The Champions League final will offer Cardiff a showcase to remind UEFA’s hierarchy of what it can offer.

The FA of Wales are aware of the Brussels problem but have had no discussions with UEFA, who ironically awarded the Principality the 2017 Champions League final partly because it missed out on Euro 2020.

The smaller Hampden Park, with the backing of Sir Alex Ferguson, was surprisingly chosen ahead of Cardiff by one vote in 2014.

A UEFA spokesman said: ‘ There are some concerns about the Eurostadium project, yet it is still possible to finish it within the agreed timetable.’