The FAW is already preparing for Wales to be co-hosts of a major international football tournament for the first time, when they stage the men’s Euro 2028 finals along with the other home associations and the Republic of Ireland.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will be one of 10 venues used across nine cities in the five countries and is expected to host at least three group games, a last-16 tie and a quarter-final.
The FAW hopes to be awarded the opening game, but that could depend on whether Wales qualify.
“The first thing is the showcasing of football here in Wales. If you take Euro 2028 for example, we fought very hard to make sure that we have the opening match here in Cardiff which the whole world will be watching,” added Mooney.
Former Uefa development executive Mooney, 48, also regards automatic qualification for the 2035 Women’s World Cup as being important for Wales.
“We’ll be working very hard to get automatic qualification,” he said.
“It really would be a big milestone for us to have qualification to the World Cup and automatic qualification ideally.
“Playing in these major tournaments is brilliant for the country, of course, but they’re also major revenue streams for us in funding the grassroots game.”
Bids for the 2031 and 2035 finals must be submitted in the fourth quarter of 2025.
A UK bid for 2035 could reportedly face a challenge from South Africa, who withdrew from the race to host the 2027 event.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/branded_sport/1200/cpsprodpb/fb46/live/86f3ab30-fa6d-11ef-8c03-7dfdbeeb2526.jpg
The FAW is already preparing for Wales to be co-hosts of a major international football tournament for the first time, when they stage the men’s Euro 2028 finals along with the other home associations and the Republic of Ireland.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will be one of 10 venues used across nine cities in the five countries and is expected to host at least three group games, a last-16 tie and a quarter-final.
The FAW hopes to be awarded the opening game, but that could depend on whether Wales qualify.
“The first thing is the showcasing of football here in Wales. If you take Euro 2028 for example, we fought very hard to make sure that we have the opening match here in Cardiff which the whole world will be watching,” added Mooney.
Former Uefa development executive Mooney, 48, also regards automatic qualification for the 2035 Women’s World Cup as being important for Wales.
“We’ll be working very hard to get automatic qualification,” he said.
“It really would be a big milestone for us to have qualification to the World Cup and automatic qualification ideally.
“Playing in these major tournaments is brilliant for the country, of course, but they’re also major revenue streams for us in funding the grassroots game.”
Bids for the 2031 and 2035 finals must be submitted in the fourth quarter of 2025.
A UK bid for 2035 could reportedly face a challenge from South Africa, who withdrew from the race to host the 2027 event.
2025-03-06 11:11:30