Industry News

FAW sets out Principality Stadium, Cardiff City Stadium plans

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has confirmed that the men’s national team will play at the Principality Stadium this year for the first time since 2011, while also revealing that all competitive home games for the next two years will be played at Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales has not played at the Principality Stadium, also known as the Millennium Stadium, since 2011, but will return to the Cardiff venue for an International Challenge Match against Spain on October 11.

The two sides have not met since 1985, when Wales ran out 3-0 winners in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match thanks to a brace from Ian Rush and a Mark Hughes goal.

Jonathan Ford, chief executive of the FAW, said: “We are delighted that we will playing against Spain, arguably the most successful international side in world football during the past few years.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our supporters to see a great team and world class players. We want to provide everyone with the opportunity of watching the game and playing at the Principality Stadium enables us to do so.”

Meanwhile, the FAW has said that all competitive home games in the next two years will take place at the 33,280-capacity Cardiff City Stadium, according to Sky Sports.

The schedule begins with Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland on September 6 and Denmark on November 16

Wales could be back at the venue again in March 2019 for the opening round of qualifying matches for the 2020 Uefa European Championships. The draw for the qualifying campaign will take place on December 2.

Cardiff City Stadium hosted all of the country’s home qualifiers for the Euro 2016 tournament, where Wales famously made it through to the semi-final stage in the finals.

Image: Seth Whales