UK: Will the Wales national team play at Principality Stadium ahead of EURO 2028?

source: StadiumDB.com; author: Kuba Kowalski

UK: Will the Wales national team play at Principality Stadium ahead of EURO 2028? The Welsh, who will be playing in the Euro 2024 play-offs, play their home games at a stadium in Cardiff, but it is not the larger of the venues, Principality Stadium. Should the country's national team move there? Voices are divided, with the coach and CEO in particular differing in their views on the subject.

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Should Wales get used to playing at Principality Stadium?

Manager Rob Page is of the opinion that Wales should not move their venue for home matches. The idea is for Principality Stadium and it would be where the Welsh national team would play ahead of Euro 2028. The bid by Great Britain and Ireland to host Euro 2028 has been formally approved and the Cardiff stadium, which has a capacity of up to 74,500, is among the 10 venues that have been selected to be used for the tournament.

The idea of playing at Principality Stadium angers a large section of Dragons fans, who prefer matches to be played at the 33,280-capacity Cardiff City Stadium. Wales have only played at the larger venue once since 2011 - that was a friendly against Spain in October 2018. The Welsh lost 4:1 at the time. On the other hand, Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, has himself talked about the possibility of the men's national team playing at Principality Stadium before Euro 2028, to allow players and fans to get used to the facility if the team qualifies for the tournament. The former would probably like to have fewer worries, which is what a new audience could prove to be. Certainty in today's uncertain world is key, as those who use licensed platform providing a reliable and secure sport bet service are also finding out.

Principality Stadium© Brendan Renkin (cc: by-nc-nd)

Stadium atmosphere or size?

Do I want it? No. The atmosphere and what we have created at Cardiff City Stadium is incredible. I’ve been quite vocal about it in the last couple of weeks because, although we have a game in Wrexham, what we have created in Cardiff is incredible and has definitely played a part in helping us with our success in the last two years. Promotion from B to A in the Nations League, qualification for the Euros and then the World Cup, our supporters in that stadium played a massive part, said Page about changing the home ground ahead of the friendly game against Gibraltar in October.

Supporters of the Welsh national team's move to Principality Stadium point to the venue's capacity, which is well above that of Cardiff City Stadium. However, is that more important than the experience of the players and coach? Size qualities were certainly on the minds of those selecting stadiums for EURO 2028. Among the arenas that will host Europe's top footballers in a few years' time, there was no place for the smaller Cardiff venue.

Principality Stadium© Brendan Renkin (cc: by-nc-nd)

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