NYON: UEFA has confirmed that Euro 2020 will be held in 13 cities, with the semi-finals and final played at the same stadium.
European football’s governing body has firmed up earlier plans to hold the tournament across the continent. Host countries will not qualify automatically but those who do qualify for the tournament will play at least two of their three group matches at home.
Infantino added: “The matches will be split into 13 packages – 12 cities who will have three group stage matches and one knock-out round match, and one city will host the two semi-finals and final.
“There will be only one venue per country and it means the semi-finals and the final will be played in the same venue.”
Wembley, Berlin and Istanbul – if the Turkish fails in its bid to land the 2020 Olympic Games – are favourites for the climactic three games. Turkey missed out by one vote when France was chosen, instead, to host the expanded, 24-team 2016 finals.
UEFA’s French president Michel Platini said: “[Istanbul] would be my vote, but if they get the Olympic Games it’s out of the question that they could stage the Euros [final] or a match.”
Cardiff, Dublin and Glasgow are all expected to bid to host group matches. The FA will also bid for group matches and quarter-finals if its bid to host the final stages at Wembley is unsuccessful.
UEFA’s executive committee will meet on March 28 to decide the bidding requirements. It is expected that bidding cities will have to provide an airport with two terminals or two different airports in order to keep rival fans apart.
Infantino also confirmed that Uefa will take travel distances into account when allocating venues, with a maximum flight time of two hours between host cities, where possible.
A decision on venues for Euro 2020, the tournament’s 60th anniversary, will be made in September next year.
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