EURO 2020 is almost here after a very long wait.
And Uefa have given us the first idea of which cities are still set to host the tournament following the coronavirus pandemic, plus how many fans they will allow.
Which countries were set to host Euro 2020?
This summer’s competition was set to be hosted in 12 different cities.
The stadiums set to host the competition were as follows:
- Wembley Stadium – London, England
- Allianz Arena – Munich, Germany
- Stadio Olimpico – Rome, Italy
- Olympic Stadium – Baku, Azerbaijan
- Krestovsky Stadium – Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Arena Nationala – Bucharest, Romania
- Johan Cruyff Arena – Amsterdam, Holland
- Aviva Stadium – Dublin, Ireland
- San Mames – Bilbao, Spain
- Puskas Arena – Budapest, Hungary
- Hampden Park – Glasgow, Scotland
- Parken Stadium – Copenhagen, Denmark
However, some host cities are in doubt, meaning England could get even more games than they’d planned for.
Which countries are still hosting Euro 2020 and how many fans will they allow?
The following countries have given Uefa they assurances they need to host the competition.
European football’s governing body has demanded all host cities commit to holding games with fans, preferably at a minimum of 25 per cent of stadium capacity.
ENGLAND
Wembley Stadium, London (90,000 capacity)
Wembley is set to host all England’s group matches, plus the Euro 2020 semi-final and final.
The FA have committed to hold their group games at a 25 per cent capacity.
However, this is likely to increase for the semi-final and final, with talk of a 50 per cent, or even a full capacity for those games.
SCOTLAND
Hampden Park, Glasgow (51,866 capacity)
After months of speculation, the Scottish FA confirmed that Scotland would be able to host Euro 2020.
Hampden Park is the venue for two of Scotland’s Euro 2020 group games, plus Croatia’s match against the Czech Republic and one last 16 match.
It will host games at a 25 per cent capacity.
AZERBAIJAN
Olympic Stadium, Baku (68,700 capacity)
Azerbaijan has announced that it will be able to host Euro 2020 matches, including Wales’ fixtures against Switzerland and Turkey.
Baku will also host Turkey vs Switzerland and one quarter-final.
All matches will be held at a 50 per cent capacity.
DENMARK
Parken Stadium, Copenhagen (38,065 capacity)
Copenhagen will host all three of Denmark’s group matches, plus one last 16 match.
The Danish capital was the first city to announce in 2021 that it would host Euro 2020 with fans.
A crowd of 25-33 per cent capacity will be allowed into Parken Stadium.
RUSSIA
Krestovsky Stadium, St Petersburg (68,134 capacity)
St Petersburg will host two of Russia’s three home group games, plus Finland vs Belgium.
In addition, it will hold one quarter-final.
All matches will be played at a minimum 50 per cent capacity.
Russia has been holding matches at half full stadiums throughout this season, while most of Europe has been playing behind closed doors due to coronavirus.
ROMANIA
Arena Nationala, Bucharest (55,600 capacity)
Romania failed to qualify for Euro 2020 but their national stadium will still host three matches from Group C and one last 16 match.
Games at the Arena Nationala will be hosted at a capacity of 25-33 per cent.
HOLLAND
Johan Cruyff Arena (56,000 capacity)
Netherlands was the second country to announce it would host Euro 2020 games, following Denmark.
All Holland’s group games will be hosted at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam with a 25-33 per cent capacity able to attend.
The country already started piloting matches with fans with March’s World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
HUNGARY
Puskas Arena, Budapest (67,215 capacity)
Budapest will host two of Hungary’s three group matches, plus a repeat of the Euro 2016 final between Portugal and France.
It will also host one last 16 match.
The Hungarian capital is the only city to announce that games will be hosted at full capacity, subject to strict entry requirements.
Which countries could be removed from hosting Euro 2020?
The following countries have yet to give Uefa the assurances they need to host Euro 2020.
IRELAND
Aviva Stadium, Dublin (51,700 capacity)
Dublin is looking like it will miss out on Euro 2020 after failing to give Uefa guarantees that any fans will be allowed to attend matches.
The Irish capital was set to host three Group E matches and a last 16 game that may well have ended up involving England.
Should Ireland miss out on hosting Euro 2020, it is likely that England will host the games that were destined for Dublin.
SPAIN
San Mames, Bilbao (53,322 capacity)
Bilbao did commit to meet Uefa’s minimum requirement of a 25 per cent capacity, however the Spanish FA refused to back their submission due to the conditions attached.
The Basque government had stated that it would be able to host games provided 60 per cent of the Basque country and the rest of Spain had been vaccinated and less than two per cent of those in hospital were coronavirus patients.
But the Spanish FA labelled these conditions “impossible” to meet.
Should Bilbao be stripped of its Euro 2020 games, it is likely they will be moved to another city in Spain.
ITALY
Stadio Olimpico, Rome (72,698 capacity)
Italy had stated its intent to host Euro 2020 games with fans but declined to give a number.
It appears that they have yet to give Uefa a guarantee of a 25 per cent capacity, which they must do by April 19.
GERMANY
Allianz Arena (75,000 capacity)
Munich has yet to give assurances of hosting Euro 2020 games with fans.
In March, the city’s mayor said: “At this point in time, it is simply not possible to make a statement about whether the corona pandemic infection will allow spectators to be admitted in June or not.
“It is clear, however, that events of this kind with spectators are not permitted under the current regulations.”
Will any cities allow fans of other countries to travel?
The following countries are set to allow away fans to travel.
AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan has announced that fans of all travelling teams (Wales, Turkey, Switzerland and the two Baku quarter-finalists) will be able to submit a negative PCR test to enter the country instead of quarantining.
This offer only applies to citizens or residents of the participating countries.
RUSSIA
St Petersburg is considering offering exemptions to entry requirements for all foreign residents with match tickets and a negative Covid test.
However, a final decision has not yet been confirmed.
HUNGARY
Foreign ticket holders looking to attend games in Budapest must provide evidence of two negative Covid tests taken in the five days before entering Hungary.
The Hungarian government will also accept a certificate of previous Covid infection in the 6 months before entering the country.
ROMANIA
Romania is considering providing an exemption to quarantine for foreign ticket holders for games in Bucharest.
This will apply to those who provide proof of a negative Covid test and restrict their stay in Romania to three days or les.
ENGLAND*
England is expected to allow 3600 Scotland fans to attend the game against the Three Lions at Wembley.
However, this trip would not involve crossing a border and no exemption is set to apply to fans of Croatia and the Czech Republic from overseas.
The FA are also reportedly considering allowing fans of the semi-finalists and finalists attend games under a bubble arrangement.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
