The Millennium Stadium will host the 100th soccer international between Wales and England when the two teams meet in a European Championship qualifier on Saturday, 26 March, 2011.
The big soccer showdown will come seven weeks after the two countries clash at the same venue in the RBS 6 Nations and will be the second time the England football team has played at the iconic, multi-sport stadium at the heart of the Welsh capital.
There were 70,715 fans crammed into the Millennium Stadium on 3 September, 2005 to see a goal from Liverpool’s Joe Cole give England a 1-0 victory in a World Cup qualifier, but Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and co will be hoping for a different result when the auld enemy returns in four months time for the 36th Welsh soccer international to be staged at the venue.
The Welsh team took their bow at the Millennium Stadium against Finland on 29 March, 2000, and since then more than 1.4 million fans have seen them play at the venue. Their last visit was for the game against Russia in September, 2009.
“Wales against England is always a massive fixture and there is no better place to showcase such a spectacle than the Millennium Stadium. We are delighted to welcome the FAW and the Welsh team for their European Championship qualifier,” said Mr Lewis.
“The Millennium Stadium is rightly regarded as one of the best sporting venues in the world and I’m sure the fans who come to Cardiff next year will have a match-day to remember.
“We are proud to be the home of Welsh rugby, but the Millennium Stadium also boasts a huge reputation as a top-class soccer venue having hosted 35 Welsh internationals, six FA Cup finals and seven Carling Cup finals. We have been delighted to be able to work so closely with the FAW in securing this for Cardiff.”
England are currently lying in second place in Group G. just behind Montenegro, in the race to qualify for the 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine. Wales are in fifth place.
FAW Chief Executive, Jonathan Ford, commented: “The FAW is delighted to be taking the match to the Millennium Stadium as it is a world-class venue. The capacity means that all Wales fans should be able to purchase a ticket.
“The venue also allows for travelling England fans to have a decent quota in their part of the ground, as is agreed in the rules of the competition. The knowledge and expertise that the Millennium Stadium has had in staging such high-profile events means that we can all look forward to a great afternoon of football, played and supported in the best traditions of fair play.
“The fact that this will also be the 100th meeting between the two countries adds spice to the occasion. The first match was back in 1879, so there is an awful lot of history between us!”
That history began at the Kennington Oval, London on 19 January, 1879, when England triumphed 2-1. The first game between the two countries in Cardiff was on 16 March, 1896 when England once again triumphed, this time 9-1, at Cardiff Arms Park – the site on which the Millennium Stadium was built.
Tickets and hospitality options are planned to go on sale before Christmas. Kick off time will be agreed shortly. Please keep watching the Millennium Stadium and FAW website and media outlets for further details.
