Scotland & Wales Consider Euro 2020 Bid

Scotland and Wales are reportedly considering a late joint bid to stage the UEFA European Championship 2020 football tournament, which could see them going head-to-head with Turkey – currently the only nation to confirm a bid, ahead of the deadline at midnight on Tuesday. 

According to media reports, a formal application could be with European football’s governing body before the midnight deadline.

Meanwhile, it is not expected a bid will be forthcoming from Eastern Europe.

Only Turkey has formally applied to host Euro 2020, putting it in direct conflict with Istanbul’s bid for the summer Olympics and Paralympics the same year.

Both UEFA President Michel Platini and International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge have warned the country would not be allowed to host both events in the same summer and should drop one or the other.

Istanbul is one of five cities in the race to host the 2020 Games, along with Baku, Doha, Madrid and Tokyo, following Rome’s withdrawal in February.

If Turkey remains the only contender for Euro 2020 by the deadline, UEFA has conceded the country would almost certainly be awarded the event by default.

Should more associations declare their interest, however, UEFA would then launch an 18-month process allowing candidates to present formal campaigns.

One problem for UEFA is that there are no longer many countries which have the infrastructure to stage the Euros, which is being expanded from 16 to 24 teams in France in 2016.

UEFA would reportedly prefer 10 stadiums, although it might accept eight – but even that would rule out several interested parties.