Why is Euro 2021 being played in different countries and which ones are they?
UEFA's decision and reasonings for organizing this year's European football championships in several countries, and what was the primary motivation.
Following a decision taken by the UEFA Executive Committee in 2013 at the House of European Football in Nyon, it was decided the UEFA EURO 2020 tournament would be staged in several cities across Europe.
The idea came from former UEFA president Michel Platini as a "romantic" one-off event to celebrate the 60th "birthday" of the European Championship competition, also providing an alternative idea to cut the organizational cost.
Wembley Stadium in London, having the largest capacity, got the go-ahead to host the final and semi-finals. At the same time, the Stadio Olimpico in Rome was chosen to host the opening game between Turkey and Italy. UEFA removed two of the original 13 venues: the Eurostadium in Brussels, Belgium, for delays in construction and Dublin Stadium for spectator safety reasons. In the meantime, Spain swapped its host city from Bilbao to Seville to allow spectators.
It is also worth noting that the selection of the host cities during the bidding process did not automatically give a qualifying spot for the host country's national team.
UEFA Euro 2020 host countries and stadiums
- Netherlands - The 1988 EURO champion will host their games at the famous Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam
- Azerbaijan - The former Soviet Republic will host the group phase games on the grounds of their biggest sports venue, the Baku Olympic Stadium, close to the shores of the Boyukshor Lake.
- Romania - The Romanian capital Bucharest will host this year's EURO games at the National Arena Bucharest ground.
- Hungary - Recently built state-of-the-art Puskás Arena in Budapest will provide the ground for the group F clashes.
- Denmark - The winners of the 1992 UEFA championships will try at Copenhagen's Parken Stadium to go through from the group phase to the next round of the competition.
- Scotland - The legendary Hampden Park, the regular venue of the Scotland national team, will be the host stadium for the matches played in group D
- Germany - The Football Arena, the home of the multiple Bundes Liga champion and the pride of Bavaria, Bayern Munich, will be the stage for the group games of the German national team.
- Russia - After they successfully organized the games of the last World Cup in 2018 at the Saint Petersburg Stadium, this year will be no different at the EURO 2021.
- Spain - Estadio La Cartuja, the home of the both La Liga clubs Betis and Seville, was the latest comer on this list.
- Italy - Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the second largest on this list and one of the oldest (built in 1927), will host the championship's opening game.
- England - After EURO 1996 and its renovation, this will be the first time Wembley Stadium will be a host of prominent international football competitions. Wembley will have the privilege to host the semifinal and final games.