UEFA are committed with their plans to host Euro 2020 across Europe in 12 different cities, despite recent talks of returning to a one host country setup.
UEFA to Continue With 12 Euro 2020 Host Cities
12 Cities and 12 Hosts
There are no plans to ditch the 12 host cities format for the upcoming European Championships, with UEFA persisting despite rising concern.
Originally devised as part of the tournament’s 60th-anniversary celebrations, Euro 2020 was scheduled to be held in London, Munich, Rome, Baku, Saint Petersburg, Budapest, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Bilbao, Amsterdam, Glasgow and Dublin.
A lovechild of estranged UEFA President, Michel Platini, the idea was surrounded with controversy from the moment it was announced. Criticisms came over the accessibility and cost for travelling fans, with questions also put forward about logistics.
Pandemic Postpones Euro 2020
One of the earliest footballing causalities of the pandemic was the cancellation of Euro 2020 in mid-March.
With 24 teams planning on travelling across nations as a time when borders were being shut off, the prospect of an international tournament became impossible.
Pushed back a year and the same problems are being faced by tournament organisers. Rising infection rates within squads and the uncertainty of a new highly transmissible variant, has cast doubts over the prospects of Euro 2020 going ahead.
No Changes to Cities or Venues
Despite the trepidations, UEFA are committed to delivering Euro 2020 in the original 12 cities format.
Reports had suggested that UEFA were looking at alternative options, mainly a tournament split across two or three countries, or even a singular host nation.
However, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin is confident the situation surrounding the virus will change, saying: “I am optimistic that things are highly likely to be very different with regard to the virus as we move closer to the tournament.”
Fans to Return For Euro 2020 Tournament
UEFA have also strengthened their stance on supporters returning to the stadiums for Euro 2020, but the possibilities of full capacity venues remain unlikely.
The procedures in place for February’s FIFA Club World Cup may give an insight into what supporters in attendance may expect.
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