Wembley to host England’s Nations League clash with Iceland
E n g l a n d ' s N a t i o n s L e a g u e match against Iceland next week will be played at Wembley after the UK Government granted a travel exemption to the visiting side.
T h e v e n u e o f E n g l a n d ’s group finale - and final fixture of 2020 - has been in doubt due to issues arising from Iceland's game in Copenhagen on Sunday.
Denmark has been subject of a travel ban since November 7 due to concerns over a new strain of Covid-19, putting the Wembley encounter i n j e o p a r dy a s t h e Fo o t b a l l Association looked at instead h o s t i n g t h e g a m e i n Germany.
I t i s u n d e r s t o o d A l b a n i a was another option put forward by Uefa, but the nationa l s t a d i u m i n L o n d o n h a s n o w b e e n g i ve n t h e g r e e n light to host the match next Wednesday.
The FA said in a statement: "We are pleased to confirm t h a t f o l l ow i n g d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h t h e r e l e v a n t a u t h o r i - ties next Wednesday's Uefa Nations League fixture against Iceland will go ahead at Wembley Stadium."
T h e G ove r n me n t exe mp - tion was announced last night, when it was confirmed that the travel ban on Denmark had been extended "for a further 14 days following an outbreak of coronavirus in mink farms".
T h e n e ws i s we l c o me f o r Gareth Southgate's men and the FA, which pleaded with G o v e r n m e n t t o a l l o w t h e match to be held at Wembley in order to protect their players and save costs.
The match against Iceland could decide whether England qualify for the knockout stages of the Nations League.