Cardiff’s Euro bid welcomed
THE news that Wales could host matches during Euro 2020 has been met with excitement, as key figures look to build on Cardiff’s “world-class reputation as hosts”.
The capital’s Principality Stadium will go up against Wembley and Stockholm as Uefa considers a potential replacement for the Belgian capital of Brussels, where the proposed new Eurostadium is yet to be built amid complications. A decision is expected in December on whether the matches will be hosted in Brussels, following an update on the build project, or one of the new venues.
The football tournament is being held in 13 host cities across Europe for the first time in 2020, with Wales initially missing out in their bid to be one of them back in 2014.
Since then, Uefa power-brokers have been impressed by Cardiff’s staging of last season’s men’s and women’s Champions League finals, when European fans descended on the capital.
The Football Association of Wales announced on Wednesday that it had been given the opportunity to again bid for Cardiff to become one of the host cities for Euro 2020.
If the bid is successful it will see one group game and a last-16 match played in the Welsh capital. Wembley has already been chosen to host games in the later stages of the competition, but is also now in the mix to host earlier games too.
The Euro 2020 finals will celebrate 60 years since the first European Championship final was played in Paris.
Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: “With an ambitious major events strategy, we would always be interested in considering supporting such a prestigious event here in Wales, and supported the FAW in their original bid to help host the 2020 European Championships.
“With this in mind, we will look to meet at the earliest opportunity with key local partners to consider the detail of this exciting potential opportunity as we look to build on our world-class reputation as hosts.”
Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas said: “We have a fantastic record putting on some of the biggest sporting events in the world. It’d be fantastic to add the European Championships to that roster and to welcome football fans from across Europe to our city.
“I have already indicated to the FAW that we will be doing everything we can to help the bid.”
Jo Stevens, MP for Cardiff Central, praised the news that Cardiff could once again be considered to host matches during Euro 2020.
“We have a proven track record of hosting the biggest and best global sporting events in our city and we give the very best welcome to fans from all over the world,” she said.
Jonathan Ford, FAW chief executive, said this week: “Naturally the FAW are delighted to be given this opportunity.
“We will work hard to once again produce a strong case for the games to be played in Cardiff and will use the experience of the Champions League to demonstrate what a success we will make of hosting these matches.”