Craig Bellamy Motivated by Euro 2028 Co-Hosting Opportunity
Craig Bellamy has expressed that the opportunity to manage Wales during a major tournament on home soil is a significant motivation for him.
Wales is set to co-host Euro 2028 alongside England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, with Cardiff's Principality Stadium expected to host the opening match.
In addition to the opening fixture, the 74,000-capacity stadium will also stage other group games and is a potential venue for knockout stage matches.
The tournament schedule will be unveiled by UEFA at a Euro 2028 launch event on Wednesday, and Bellamy is excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"It’s massive, and it was always in the back of my mind when I signed here," said Bellamy, who took on the managerial role last summer. "I want to qualify for the World Cup, and I am fully committed to that, but Euro 2028 is also a strong motivation for me."
As a former Wales striker, Bellamy never had the chance to compete in a major finals as a player. His immediate goal is to guide his team to the World Cup next year, with Wales poised to secure a place in the play-offs for the tournament.
Wales will face Liechtenstein on Saturday, 15 November, and will host North Macedonia the following Tuesday in their final group qualifiers before the play-offs for the 2026 finals in March.
Although there is no automatic qualification for co-hosts for Euro 2028, two spots will be reserved for the finals should any of the host nations fail to qualify.
Bellamy, who recently stated that the Celtic managerial position was not a priority due to his aspirations with Wales, is aware of the opportunity ahead. "I don’t know if the public has fully grasped it yet, and it’s still a long way off, but it’s massive," he remarked.
The Principality Stadium is one of nine venues designated for Euro 2028, but it has not hosted a competitive fixture for Wales in 14 years.
Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, mentioned in September that the men's national team will play at the Principality in preparation for Euro 2028—a move Bellamy supports.
Players and fans have advocated for continuing to host matches at the smaller Cardiff City Stadium. "I focus on what gives us the best chance of winning, regardless of the venue," Bellamy stated. "If Wrexham offers that opportunity, then we will go there. I enjoy playing anywhere in Wales, but we need to fill the stadium. It has to be a full house because I believe that gives us the best chance to succeed."
Bellamy famously scored one of his most memorable goals at the Millennium Stadium during a stunning victory over Italy in 2002, in front of a packed crowd.
Since their last competitive match at the larger venue against England in 2011, Wales has played only once there—a friendly against Spain in 2018. Reflecting on the Italy victory, Bellamy noted, "I also remember the later stages when Wales played at the Principality Stadium with only 15,000 or 20,000 fans in attendance. It was more advantageous for the opposition, and we need to capitalize on every small advantage. If we are in the Euros and know we will be playing at the Principality, it makes sense to have several games there beforehand for familiarity and comfort. That seems like common sense to me."