Dublin to host the draw for UEFA 2020 European Championships

Convention Centre Dublin chosen for December 2018 event

The tournament will be hosted in 13 different cities across the continent in a change to the usual format.   Photographer: Crispin Rodwell/Bloomberg
The tournament will be hosted in 13 different cities across the continent in a change to the usual format. Photographer: Crispin Rodwell/Bloomberg

Dublin has been selected to host the draw for the qualifying groups of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) 2020 in December 2018.

UEFA selected Ireland as the venue for this event, to be held in the Convention Centre Dublin, following an invitation to bid issued to the host cities of European Championships.

The tournament will be hosted in 13 different cities across the continent in a change to the usual format where it is usually hosted in one country or in adjacent countries.

Dublin is set to host three group games and a round of 16 match in the Aviva Stadium, which is expected to bring an economic benefit of between €40-€50million to the country.

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The draw for the qualifying rounds of the European Championships will be held in the Convention Centre Dublin.

It is quite a coup for the Convention Centre as the bid to host the draw came down to the technical ability of venues to cope with the television demand.

It follows a submission led by the UEFA Euro (Dublin) local organising committee, consisting of representatives from Dublin City Council and the Football Association of Ireland, the Government through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

The Minister for Sport Shane Ross said the decision to host the qualifying draw in Dublin would be a "fantastic opportunity to boost the profile of Dublin and Ireland, and to highlight our facilities for international conferences and events."

Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney said the decision to host the draw in Dublin "demonstrates the high regard in which Ireland is held as a tournament host.

“The live televised event will be broadcast throughout the world and puts Irish football, as well as Ireland as a nation, at the forefront of international sport.”

The finals will take place in June and July of 2020.

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy is a news reporter with The Irish Times