" Wales plan celebratory match at Millennium Stadium "

The likes of world champions Germany, Spain or Argentina could face Gareth Bale and co in a potential celebration match in November if Wales achieve the Euro 2016 dream.

Monday 22nd June 2015

Wales are planning talks over a Millennium Stadium return for a celebration glamour game – IF they qualify for Euro 2016.

And it could see the likes of Lionel Messi’s Argentina, world champions Germany, the recently all-conquering Spain or Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal head to Cardiff to take on Gareth Bale and co. in front of a possible 74,500 crowd.

Chris Coleman’s side potentially need just two wins from their final four games to book a place in next summer’s European Championships in France.

And Football Association of Wales chiefs are understood to be tentatively looking at booking a friendly match with one of the biggest international sides in the world to mark the occasion if they pull it off and become the first team to qualify for a major finals since 1958.

Wales want a high-profile home fixture for the November international week should they finish as one of the top two sides in Group B and avoid the nightmare of the play-offs scheduled for that date.

And they are planning to use the World Cup draw in Russia next month – where Wales will be among the top seeds – to sound out fellow top-ranked countries for a mouthwatering friendly match.

The FAW will hope Wales’ new status as one of the top-ten football nations in the world, set to be confirmed by the new Fifa rankings on July 9, will help them nail down the kind of opposition to make it a fitting feel-good celebration to give the country a chance to properly celebrate qualification and hail the heroes who made it happen.

And it is understood Welsh chiefs will want to stage the game at the Millennium having stuck steadfastly to using Cardiff City Stadium for qualifying games.


The FAW came under fire for refusing to budge from using the smaller venue for the remaining home games of the Euro 2016 games despite players making it clear they wanted to stay at the home of the Bluebirds, as well as logistical issues making the prospect of a switch to the Millennium problematic.

But they were fully vindicated when Wales’ stunning 1-0 win over Belgium earlier this month was played out against a backdrop of one of the best atmospheres in recent memory where a stirring, impromptu version of the national anthem helped shell-shock Belgian stars such as Eden Hazard.

Still, there is an acknowledgement that Wales would want to utilise the bigger Millennium for any celebration game to allow as many supporters as possible to enjoy the buzz created by the march to France which has been sparked by an unbeaten start to their Group B campaign.

Wales would have to play those countries assured of qualification or a non-European side with Argentina and Messi a potential visitor.

Hopes of a friendly with the South American giants earlier this year were put on ice because of the need for Coleman’s side to prepare fully for their March fixture with Israel, but they could be resurrected with the added hook of the game marking the 150th anniversary of the first Welsh settlers in Patagonia.

The Wales camp are wary of getting ahead of themselves and the message from within the dressing room remains one of finishing the job, something they can do if they pull off September wins against Cyprus and Israel and Bosnia drop points away to Belgium.

With the top two qualifying automatically – as well as the best third place finisher from nine groups – Wales finish the campaign in October with a trip to Zenica against Bosnia who are currently five points behind Coleman’s side, wrapping things up with a home fixture against winless minnows Andorra.

Ridiculous considering if Cyprus beat us they'll be 2 points behind us. With us still having to go away to Bosnia.

We really are not there yet, people are blowing it all out of proportion.

Bosnia are still the team I worry about. They are a good team and are now playing like they are capable of.

Totally agree, we are not even there yet. Sky sports headline after we beat Belgium 'Bale puts Wales on the brink'. Tough games still left to play, all this praise for Coleman, still a poor manager IMO. Bale has got Chris a Lower Premier League club job. But what other Welsh managers are out there? Bale gets injured that's our attack gone. Take it a game at a time!

Great idea - ONCE OR IF we qualify. Until then Welsh FA shouldnt even say a single thing

Ridiculous considering if Cyprus beat us they'll be 2 points behind us. With us still having to go away to Bosnia.

We really are not there yet, people are blowing it all out of proportion.

Bosnia are still the team I worry about. They are a good team and are now playing like they are capable of.

Nobody is getting carried away and the post says, "If we qualify!"

Ridiculous considering if Cyprus beat us they'll be 2 points behind us. With us still having to go away to Bosnia.

We really are not there yet, people are blowing it all out of proportion.

Bosnia are still the team I worry about. They are a good team and are now playing like they are capable of.

Nobody is getting carried away and the post says, "If we qualify!"

People are putting deposits down on campervans!.

I'm a long way from getting excited yet watched us fall at the final hurdle too many times

Ridiculous considering if Cyprus beat us they'll be 2 points behind us. With us still having to go away to Bosnia.

We really are not there yet, people are blowing it all out of proportion.

Bosnia are still the team I worry about. They are a good team and are now playing like they are capable of.

Even though we are not mathematically there yet, these things clearly have to be organised well in advance. So a November friendly would need to be sorted over the next few months.

As easy as it would be for everything to change against us right now, I agree that for planning purposes, the FAW should probably be looking as they are, that they will qualify.

Ridiculous considering if Cyprus beat us they'll be 2 points behind us. With us still having to go away to Bosnia.

We really are not there yet, people are blowing it all out of proportion.

Bosnia are still the team I worry about. They are a good team and are now playing like they are capable of.

Nobody is getting carried away and the post says, "If we qualify!"

People are putting deposits down on campervans!.

I'm sure you know what you mean!

Personally I would still play at the Cardiff City Stadium, thats Wales new home

Personally I would still play at the Cardiff City Stadium, thats Wales new home

Personally, I can't see any problem in playing friendlies or celebratory matches at the Millenium Stadium, as long as we keep the CCS for competitive matches!

Personally I would still play at the Cardiff City Stadium, thats Wales new home

Personally, I can't see any problem in playing friendlies or celebratory matches at the Millenium Stadium, as long as we keep the CCS for competitive matches!

And personally I would rather keep matches in our new home as all results mean something

FAW need to take a step back and think to themselves how they beat Belgium. The stadium was a massive factor as the fans knew where to sit, and the players were used to their surroundings. I've said since day one that one of the main reasons for watching wales atm is the feel of togetherness in the stadium. More friendlies up north, the die hards will go up there.

The FAW have done the right thing in playing all our home qualifying matches at the CCS, but there's a lot of fans who want to see us play now and the FAW are entitled to make a bit of money by playing a friendly(s) at the Millenium Stadium!

Personally I would still play at the Cardiff City Stadium, thats Wales new home

Personally, I can't see any problem in playing friendlies or celebratory matches at the Millenium Stadium, as long as we keep the CCS for competitive matches!

And personally I would rather keep matches in our new home as all results mean something

Do friendlies count towards the FIFA world rankings?

If so, I agree with Annis.

Personally I would still play at the Cardiff City Stadium, thats Wales new home

Personally, I can't see any problem in playing friendlies or celebratory matches at the Millenium Stadium, as long as we keep the CCS for competitive matches!

And personally I would rather keep matches in our new home

Do friendlies count towards the FIFA world rankings?

If so, I agree with Annis.

Thats why we never played a friendly before the Belgium game as if we had lost we might not have been seeded
Yes they do

Personally I would still play at the Cardiff City Stadium, thats Wales new home

Personally, I can't see any problem in playing friendlies or celebratory matches at the Millenium Stadium, as long as we keep the CCS for competitive matches!

And personally I would rather keep matches in our new home as all results mean something

Do friendlies count towards the FIFA world rankings?

If so, I agree with Annis.

As said above, they do count, but you get 2.5 times less points for them than qualifiers (apart from losses, which are 0 whenever they are played)

Cant help but think people are getting carried away with 4 games still to go

Ridiculous considering if Cyprus beat us they'll be 2 points behind us. With us still having to go away to Bosnia.

We really are not there yet, people are blowing it all out of proportion.

Bosnia are still the team I worry about. They are a good team and are now playing like they are capable of.

Nobody is getting carried away and the post says, "If we qualify!"

Making plans for a celebration game is getting carried away ffs! Let's focus on our next game and then the one after that until were safe. It's ridiculous

Why move to the Millenium when our next two games at the CCS have been on sale now for 3 weeks and still have over 10,000 tickets left? Shows the Welsh public are only interested in the glamour tie. Celebration if it happens will be the night of the Andorra match!

Ridiculous considering if Cyprus beat us they'll be 2 points behind us. With us still having to go away to Bosnia.

We really are not there yet, people are blowing it all out of proportion.

Bosnia are still the team I worry about. They are a good team and are now playing like they are capable of.

Nobody is getting carried away and the post says, "If we qualify!"

Making plans for a celebration game is getting carried away ffs! Let's focus on our next game and then the one after that until were safe. It's ridiculous

Stop being such a drama queen, have the FAW announced any friendly as being a celebration game as yet? No they haven't!

Even friendly matches have to be planned months in advance and the FAW will already have plans to arrange a friendly in November during the International break, the same as every other football playing International nation!

Nobody is taking qualification for granted, but the FAW will have to make provisions for the possibility of such a celebratory occasion, or take the chance of being accused of not preparing for the eventuality, "Should" we manage to get over the qualification finishing line, when loads of our fans will want to see their heroes strutting their stuff in their hordes!

Why move to the Millenium when our next two games at the CCS have been on sale now for 3 weeks and still have over 10,000 tickets left? Shows the Welsh public are only interested in the glamour tie. Celebration if it happens will be the night of the Andorra match!

I think you'll find there are only a handful of tickets left at normal prices for the Andorra match and only Hospitality tickets left for the Israel match,costing £50 each for an adult!

Why move to the Millenium when our next two games at the CCS have been on sale now for 3 weeks and still have over 10,000 tickets left? Shows the Welsh public are only interested in the glamour tie. Celebration if it happens will be the night of the Andorra match!

Why move to the Millenium when our next two games at the CCS have been on sale now for 3 weeks and still have over 10,000 tickets left? Shows the Welsh public are only interested in the glamour tie. Celebration if it happens will be the night of the Andorra match!

Don't know if you'd be kind enough to post the ticket availability of the Israel game, as there are only limited corporate tickets available in the Ninian Stand for that match!

I forgot about the away section being available to home fans for the Andorra match, which shows that there are quite a few ordinary price tickets left in the usual away section for that match, but only limited ordinary price tickets left in the Family Stand and Upper Ninian Stand!

One thing the E-ticketing availability does show however, is that the figure quoted above of over 10,000 tickets available for the 2 matches, is well out and whilst the tickets may well have been on sale for over 3 weeks, there are still 4 months to go before the Andorra match in any case!

Any indication on how Israel's ticket sales are going?
Also, if they did have a lot spare, is there any chance of their section being reduced to allow more home fans, like City did a few years ago, or is that completely out of the question?

Any indication on how Israel's ticket sales are going?
Also, if they did have a lot spare, is there any chance of their section being reduced to allow more home fans, like City did a few years ago, or is that completely out of the question?

As I've posted above, there are only corporate tickets left for the Israel match, which cost £50 for an adult!

These seats are located in the Ninian Stand!

10,000 takes into consideration of the Ninian Stand Upper & Grandstand level 4. Anyone got the images for that?

Any indication on how Israel's ticket sales are going?
Also, if they did have a lot spare, is there any chance of their section being reduced to allow more home fans, like City did a few years ago, or is that completely out of the question?

As I've posted above, there are only corporate tickets left for the Israel match, which cost £50 for an adult!

These seats are located in the Ninian Stand!

I understand that! I think I counted just over 400 on eticketing yesterday! I was more curious about the away fans ticket sales, and whether the possibility was there of requesting tickets back from them, etc.

In all fairness to the FAW they would probably have to book a friendly well in advance with one off the top teams.