The 2020 European Football Championship will be the 16th tournament among European teams. It will be held in the summer of 2020. It will be the second EURO in the final of which twenty-four teams will compete. For the first time, the tournament’s games will be held not in one state, but immediately at 13. They decided to hold the European Championship 2020 in this format on the occasion that sixty years have passed since the first European tournament. This action will be held once, and, therefore, the future European Championship draw will be held according to standard regulations.
Primary requirements for hosting the 2020 European Football Championship
UEFA's primary conditions for countries wishing to host the tournament were put forward in the summer of 2009. In accordance with this decision, the hostess was obliged to prepare two arenas, the capacity of which will be at least 50 thousand places. In addition, 3 stadiums were supposed to host more than 40 thousand, as well as 4 more than 30 thousand fans. The requirements did not end there. The organizers were obliged to fulfill 19 points on the organization of football arenas, as well as all hotels and other infrastructure had to comply with basic requirements.
Final conditions
Where will the 2020 European Football Championship take place? The question was of interest to many countries. Everyone expected to hear the answer in January 2013. Instead, UEFA announced that 13 cities will host the UEFA 2020 football matches. They were chosen later, but already in winter conditions were put forward:
- Twelve cities will receive four games each: three group round matches and one playoff game. Semifinal and final matches will be held in the thirteenth city.
- One country was given the opportunity to exhibit a single arena.
- The capacity of the arenas should be as follows: group meetings and 1/8 finals - at least 50 thousand; 1/4 finals - not less than 60 thousand; the semifinals and finals of the 2020 European Football Championship - 70 thousand. The arenas should be launched without fail by 2016 at the latest.
- The team, whose country will host the European Championship, will play at least two games in the home stadium.
- National teams will be distributed over several zones.
- The participating team chooses where to live.
- The host country must have two airfields for the convenience of the fans.
In the same year, Platini said that he would pay special attention to the wishes of residents of those countries that have not yet accepted major football tournaments.
List of candidates
Wanted to find out where the 2020 European Football Championship will be? UEFA has officially received applications from the following states and regions:
- Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Wales for the first time fought for the opportunity to hold the European Championship.
- Azerbaijan and Georgia. Georgia has never taken part in the fight for a major football competition. Azerbaijan fought for EURO 2012.
In addition to these countries, they fought for the European Championship 2020, but then refused to participate:
- Belgium and the Netherlands. Already have experience conducting serious tournaments. Belgium did not have time to complete all the necessary documents. The Netherlands did not want to continue to participate in the struggle.
- Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
- Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia.
- Russia. Fought for EURO 2008 and 2012. Then she joined the race for the 2018 World Cup and refused to host the European Championship 2020.
- Latvia and Estonia. The Estonian football leadership will enter the fight for the European Championship-2024.
- Turkey.
Selection
In addition to the above changes, the qualification will also pass according to other rules. Directly in the qualifying groups will get twenty teams. All will be divided into ten groups. The first two teams are sent to the European Championship. Four teams will be held thanks to the competition “League of Nations”. He will replace friendlies. The period of the qualifying matches will also change. The beginning is March 2019, the end is the spring of 2020.
Stadiums
In April 2014, UEFA confirmed nineteen applications and chose where the UEFA Football Championship 2020 will take place. Countries left applications in two versions. The first included the stadium, announced for the group round and 1/8 finals, the second - the arena for the semifinals and finals. Thus, all states could nominate no more than 2 cities for participation. In September, the announcement of the cities and stadiums that will host the UEFA 2020 matches took place.
The semi-finals and finals will be held in London. The games will take place at Wembley Arena. Capacity - 90 thousand
The quarter-finals and games of the group round will be held at the Olympic Stadium (capacity - 70 thousand), Alliance Arena (70 thousand people), the Olympic Stadium in Italy (capacity - 69 thousand) and Krestovsky (69 500 man).
“Parken”, “National Stadium”, “Amsterdam Arena”, “Aviva”, “San Mames”, stadium “Name of Ferenc Puskas” (construction), “New Stadium” (not finished), “Hampden Park” - arenas, on which the fights of the group round and 1/8 finals will take place.