The Euro Cup Football 2020 has been officially postponed to 2021, UEFA announced after a video conference on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. This decision comes as a result of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, which has brought sports events worldwide to a standstill. Originally scheduled to take place across Europe from June 12 to July 12, 2020, the tournament will now be held from June 11 to July 11, 2021.
This unprecedented move was agreed upon during an emergency meeting with representatives from all 55 UEFA national associations, clubs, and leagues. During the conference, UEFA also confirmed the suspension of all UEFA competitions, including Champions League and Europa League matches, as well as international friendlies for both club and national teams, until further notice. This comprehensive suspension underscores the severity of the situation and the commitment of football governing bodies to prioritize public health.
Image: UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin announcing the postponement of Euro Cup Football 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The postponement of Euro Cup Football 2020 provides a window for European domestic leagues, which have also been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, to complete their seasons. UEFA has established a working group, including league and club representatives, to explore scheduling solutions that will allow for the completion of the current domestic season and address the broader consequences of the postponement. This collaborative approach aims to mitigate the disruption caused by the pandemic and ensure the integrity of the football calendar.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin acknowledged the magnitude of the crisis in a statement, emphasizing the need for unity and responsibility within the football community. “We are at the helm of a sport that vast numbers of people live and breathe that has been laid low by this invisible and fast-moving opponent,” Ceferin stated. He described the situation as “the biggest crisis that football faced in history,” highlighting the necessity of halting competitions in the face of the widespread impact of the virus across Europe.
The Euro Cup Football 2020 postponement directly impacts the qualifying playoffs, which were initially scheduled for March 26 and 31 to determine the final lineup for the tournament. These crucial playoff matches are now tentatively rescheduled for the international window at the beginning of June, pending a review of the evolving health situation. The rescheduling of these matches is crucial for finalizing the participating teams in the revamped tournament next year.
Economically, the Euro Cup Football 2020 is a significant event, generating approximately €2 billion in revenue for UEFA through sponsorships and broadcasting rights. The postponement will undoubtedly have financial repercussions for UEFA and its partners, as companies also grapple with the broader economic fallout of the pandemic. Ceferin acknowledged the economic challenges ahead, stating, “The economic situation in Europe and in the world will harm us as well.” However, he stressed the immediate need for unity and decisive action, with a focus on assessing potential damages in the future, expressing confidence that the football community will emerge stronger from the crisis.
Image: Excited football fans celebrating at a Euro Cup match, highlighting the anticipation that will now be extended to Euro Cup Football 2021.
The global sports calendar has been significantly disrupted, with numerous high-profile events cancelled or suspended, including uncertainty surrounding the Tokyo Olympics. In European football, all top-tier domestic leagues, including the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and Bundesliga, are suspended, alongside UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and World Cup qualifying matches.
UEFA has indicated its intention to complete all domestic and European club competitions by June 30, 2020, at the latest, if conditions allow. Sources indicate that major Spanish clubs like Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have expressed satisfaction with the decision to postpone Euro Cup Football 2020, recognizing UEFA’s understanding of the challenges faced by clubs. The Spanish FA president, Luis Rubiales, echoed UEFA’s hope to conclude domestic league seasons by late June, emphasizing the desire to minimize disruption to the footballing calendar.
Support for the postponement decision was widespread, with the English and French football associations, as well as European Club Association chairman and Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, all publicly backing the move. Concurrently, the Copa America, originally scheduled for 2020, was also postponed to 2021 by CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, mirroring the global impact of the pandemic on international football.
The synchronized postponement of both Euro Cup Football 2020 and Copa America provides crucial flexibility to reschedule and complete suspended domestic competitions. European leagues had strongly advocated for prioritizing domestic league completion, as clubs faced significant financial losses from matchday revenues while still obligated to pay player salaries. Ceferin emphasized UEFA’s commitment to finding solutions that allow for the safe completion of the current season, expressing pride in the collaborative response from European football stakeholders.
Looking ahead, the international football calendar for 2021 is becoming increasingly congested. Moving Euro Cup Football 2020 to June and July 2021 overlaps with the slot initially reserved by FIFA for its expanded Club World Cup, which was planned to include eight European clubs. Ceferin acknowledged discussions with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, suggesting that the Club World Cup in 2021 would likely need to be rescheduled due to the Euro Cup Football 2020 postponement.
Furthermore, the Women’s European Championship, scheduled to be held in England in the summer of 2021, and FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup in China, penciled in for June 17-July 4, are also potentially affected. Ceferin indicated that it is “most likely” the Women’s Euro would be moved to 2022 to avoid overlap with the men’s Euro Cup Football 2021. He reasoned against holding both major European championships in close proximity, stating, “I don’t think that we should cannibalize the women’s Euro with the men’s Euro just one month before.”
Image: Wembley Stadium in London, the planned venue for the final of Euro Cup Football 2020, now postponed to 2021.
The planned host cities for Euro Cup Football 2020, a unique pan-European tournament marking UEFA’s 60th anniversary, remain the same for 2021. These cities include Glasgow, Dublin, Bilbao, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Munich, Rome, St Petersburg, Bucharest, Budapest, and Baku, with the final match scheduled for Wembley Stadium in London. Ceferin affirmed the intention to maintain the original venues and format, stating, “The plan is to have the same venues, the same cities, the same stadiums.” However, he acknowledged contingency planning, suggesting flexibility to reduce the number of host stadiums if necessary due to unforeseen complications.
Following UEFA’s announcement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a statement confirming a scheduled conference call to discuss the measures taken by UEFA and to coordinate further steps on a global scale, highlighting the worldwide collaborative effort to manage the impact of the pandemic on football.
