The Millennium (Priciplaity) stadium has been put forward as a venue for the 2028 European Championships with the UK & Ireland breezing through without any competition after Turkey withdrew.
But Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, last month raised the possibility of the men’s national team playing there before Euro 2028 to allow players and supporters to get used to the venue should they qualify for the tournament. "Do I want it? No,” Page said of that suggestion ahead of Wales’ friendly with Gibraltar, which was only the second time that the Dragons have played at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground since 2008.
Page quite rightly, stated. "The atmosphere and what we have created at Cardiff City Stadium is incredible”
Interestingly, it is highly unlikely Page will be Wales head coach come 2028, but of course with Mooney muting the use of the bigger stadium before the championships in five years time there seems to be a clash of ideals. Mooney is looking for the extra cash incentive with the Principality holding seventy five thousand and Cardiff around thirty two thousand. The other issue is how many games will Wales be awarded, that’s yet to be fixed.
The other is will Wales even make it to that years championships ?
It is believed all of the four home nations plus the Republic will have to qualify through normal methods with two places available automatically. That in itself is an issue as history tells us all of these nations never qualify through the group stages. Even with a larger pool for the finals it will be difficult. That could mean a play off and one nation holding the event but with no team involved.
Page put his case forward, but it’s unlikely he will be listened to with so much extra cash for the FAW a being available. "I’ve been quite vocal about it in the last couple of weeks because, although we have a game in Wrexham, what we have created in Cardiff is incredible and has definitely played a part in helping us with our success in the last two years. Promotion from B to A in the Nations League, qualification for the Euros and then the World Cup, our supporters in that stadium played a massive part.”
Of course Page is right, it’s been a long time since Wales were the best supported national side in Europe since those heady days when the Millennium stadium was used for internationals. Back then low ticket prices encouraged capacity crowds, and even then Wales failed to qualify for any tournament.
This could be a key area for the FAW to overcome because use of the Millennium stadium they will see as setting up the coffers for many years to come. Utilising that venue for Wales games could see the football side take a hit. And with so much hard work proving that the much smaller stadium is a better idea, this will divide supporters of the national side.
Huge events have been held at the Millennium stadium, boxing, rugby and now it seems the big idea is to use the stadium again for Wales games, this surely is a huge mistake ?