Western Mail

Welsh capital set to bid for Euro 2028 matches

- TED PESKETT Local democracy reporter ted.peskett@reachplc.com

CARDIFF council is set to give its full backing to plans for Cardiff to be one of the host cities for the Euro 2028 football tournament.

The UK and Ireland will submit a joint bid to host the renowned football tournament in April, and the capital’s Principali­ty Stadium could be one of the grounds to be graced by world-class players.

Cardiff council’s cabinet members will meet on Thursday to discuss the submission of the final tournament bid. A cabinet report says hosting games at the Principali­ty Stadium could deliver “significan­t economic benefits for Cardiff and the City Region”.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events Cllr Jennifer Burke said: “Time and again Cardiff has shown itself capable of hosting world-class sporting events and they don’t come much bigger than the Uefa European Football Championsh­ip.

“It’s not just the significan­t economic benefits hosting games would deliver for the city and the wider region during the tournament, if successful, the bid would showcase the city, building on its reputation as an internatio­nal events destinatio­n, bringing longer-term benefits for tourism.

“Importantl­y, it would also expand opportunit­ies for people in Cardiff to participat­e in sport and physical activity.”

The Principali­ty Stadium is one of 14 stadiums across Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and England that were shortliste­d to be part of the final bid.

Other stadiums as part of this list include Wembley Stadium, Old Trafford, Dublin Arena, Hampden Park, and Casement Park Stadium.

A final short-list of 10 stadiums will be submitted as part of the bid in April 12.

Uefa will announce the winner of the Euro 2028 bid this autumn – this could be in September or October according to the council.

The five-nation bid to host the tournament will go head to head with a bid being made by Turkey.

Cardiff council’s cabinet is recommende­d to approve the submission of the final tournament bid and sign the host city agreement.

 ?? Darko Vojinovic ?? Wales fans at the Euro 2020 match with Turkey at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan
Darko Vojinovic Wales fans at the Euro 2020 match with Turkey at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan

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