Wales boss does not want future home matches moved to Euro 2028 finals venue

ROBERT PAGE does not want Wales to move home games to the Principality Stadium.

The UK and Ireland were named as hosts of Euro 2028 in Nyon yesterday and the Cardiff venue will be one of the grounds to host games.

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Last month, Wales chief executive Noel Mooney raised the suggestion of playing matches at the rugby venue.

The Dragons have played there just once since 2011 — and that was a 4-1 hammering by Spain five years ago.

But Wales boss Page is keen to stay put at their traditional home of the 33,280-capacity Cardiff City Stadium — even though the Principality holds 74,500 fans — because of their rich success of reaching two Euros finals and the World Cup.

When asked if they should switch future games before the Euro 2028 finals, Page said: “Do I want it? No. The atmosphere and what we have created at Cardiff City Stadium is incredible.

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“I’ve been quite vocal about it because, although we have a game in Wrexham, what we’ve created in Cardiff 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.”

SunSport revealed yesterday the FA would rather be made to qualify than be given a free pass.

Page added: “We would prefer to qualify in our own right. We are used to qualifying for major tournaments like the Euros and the World Cup and we have a group of lads who enjoyed that.

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"They’re the expectations we have set ourselves so we’d go all out to do that.

“But if the qualification is home nations like it has been in the past and we are given a spot then we won’t turn it down. How we qualify is a grey area at the moment.”

Cardiff hope to host the opening match of the Euros as one of six potential matches in the Welsh capital.

Former Sheffield United defender Page, who won 41 caps for the Dragons, added: “It’s fantastic news — to bring a tournament
to Wales is incredible.

";For Cardiff to potentially have the opening game is extra special.

“It’s great for Welsh football and the public. It’s massive for us as a nation and Cardiff as a capital. It’s a great achievement. Everyone
involved should be very proud of bringing the tournament to the city.”