Football Association bids to host Euro 2020 matches

Friday 25 Apr 2014
Wembley Stadium would potentially be a Euro 2020 venue
The FA has submitted a bid to host one of the 13 UEFA Euro 2020 packages.

The governing body has expressed an interest in two packages – one group stage as well as the semi-finals and final package.

It was announced in December that the 2020 installment of UEFA’s showpiece national tournament will be held in multiple cities across Europe.

UEFA opened the bidding process for associations to express their interest in hosting either one of the 12 group stage packages, or to be the host city of both semi-finals and the final. Associations can apply for more than one package, but can only be awarded one.

The bidding nations will be announced on Saturday 26 April - and a final decision as to which bids have been successful will be announced by UEFA in Geneva on 19 September.

Alex Horne Euro 2020

General secretary Alex Horne says The FA has submitted a "strong" bid for UEFA to consider

FA general secretary Alex Horne said: “I would like to thank everyone involved in The FA’s bid to host part of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, including the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport - along with our various partners across the capital and the country as a whole.

“We are bidding for either of the two packages available and with our recent experience of hosting two UEFA Champions League Finals in the last four years we believe that Wembley Stadium and London represent a strong bid for UEFA to consider.

“We recognise UEFA is considering many strong bids from a number of candidate cities and we welcome the opportunity to put forward our bid.”

The decision to hold a "Euro for Europe" completion in 2020 was taken to mark the European Championship's 60th anniversary.

The format will not affect the qualification process, and will not assure automatic berths being awarded to the national teams of the host nations.

England begin their qualifying campaign for the newly expanded Euro 2016 in September - after being drawm in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino.

The finals will be held in France in June 2016.

The last time England hosted an international tournament was in 1996 – when the Three Lions made it to the semi-finals, before falling to Germany on penalties.

By Jamie Reid Senior Writer