Euro 2028 bid a ‘massive’ motivation for Bellamy

Craig Bellamy says the prospect of managing Wales at a major tournament on home soil is a “massive” motivation.

Wales will co-host Euro 2028 alongside England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium expected to stage the opening fixture.

As well as hosting other group games, the 74,000-capacity ground is a potential venue for a knockout round tie.

The schedule will be confirmed by Uefa at a Euro 2028 launch on Wednesday, with Bellamy saying the once-in-a-generation opportunity excites him.

“It’s massive and it was when I signed here – it was always in the back of my mind,” said Bellamy, who was appointed last summer.

Former Wales striker Bellamy never reached a major finals as a player and his immediate target is to lead his country at next year’s World Cup, with his team set for a place in the play-offs to reach the tournament.

Wales face Liechtenstein on Saturday, 15 November and then host North Macedonia the following Tuesday in their final group qualifiers before play-offs for the 2026 finals come next March.

There is no automatic qualification for co-hosts for 2028, but two places will be reserved at the finals should any of the host nations fail to qualify.

And it appears Bellamy – who recently said the Celtic managerial vacancy was “not on his radar” because of his ambitions with Wales – senses the opportunity.

“I don’t know if the public have switched on quite yet and it’s a long way ahead, but it’s massive,” he added.

The Principality Stadium is one of nine venues that will be used for Euro 2028.

The Cardiff venue has not been used by Wales for a competitive fixture in 14 years.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said in September the men’s national side will play at the Principality in the lead-up to Euro 2028, a plan Bellamy says he understands.

Players and fans have championed the idea of continuing to play at the smaller Cardiff City Stadium.

“I only look at what gives us the best chance of winning, no matter where it us,” Bellamy said.

“If Wrexham does [give Wales that chance], then we go there.

“I like playing anywhere in Wales, but we have to fill it. It has to be a full stadium.

Bellamy scored one of his most iconic goals at what was then the Millennium Stadium, in a memorable win over Italy in front of a full house in 2002.

Wales have played only once at the bigger venue – in a 2018 friendly against Spain – since their most recent competitive game there, against England in 2011.

When discussing the Italy victory, Bellamy said: “I also remember the latter stages [of Wales playing at the Principality Stadium] where it wasn’t comfortable with only 15,000 or 20,000 people there.

“It was more beneficial to the opposition and we have to gain every small margin.