Craig Bellamy’s Ambition for Wales Ahead of Euro 2028

Craig Bellamy was appointed as the head coach of the Wales national football team in July 2024 under a four-year contract.

Bellamy has expressed that the opportunity to manage Wales at a major tournament on home soil is a significant motivation for him. Wales will co-host Euro 2028 alongside England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium set to host the opening match.

In addition to staging other group matches, the stadium, which has a capacity of 74,000, could also serve as a venue for knockout stage matches. The schedule will be announced by UEFA during a Euro 2028 launch event on Wednesday, and Bellamy has conveyed his enthusiasm for this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

“It’s massive, and it was in the back of my mind when I signed here,” said Bellamy, who took up his role last summer. “I want to qualify for the World Cup, and I am fully committed to that, but Euro 2028 serves as a great motivation.”

Recently, players Davies, Cabango, and Moore withdrew from the Wales squad. Bellamy, a former striker for the national team, never participated in a major tournament as a player. His immediate goal is to lead Wales to the upcoming World Cup, with the team poised for a place in the play-offs.

Wales is scheduled to face Liechtenstein on Saturday, 15 November, and will host North Macedonia the following Tuesday as they conclude their group qualifiers before heading into the play-offs for the 2026 finals next March. While there is no automatic qualification for the co-hosts of Euro 2028, two places will be reserved for the finals should any of the host nations fail to qualify.

Bellamy, who recently stated that the managerial vacancy at Celtic was not a priority due to his ambitions with Wales, acknowledges the opportunity ahead. “I don’t know if the public has fully realized it yet, and it’s still a long way off, but it’s significant,” he added.

The Principality Stadium is one of nine venues designated for Euro 2028. The last competitive fixture Wales played at this venue was 14 years ago. Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, indicated in September that the men’s national team would play at the Principality Stadium in preparation for Euro 2028, a decision Bellamy supports.

There is support from players and fans for continuing to play at the smaller Cardiff City Stadium. “I focus on what provides us the best chance of winning, regardless of the location,” Bellamy stated. “If Wrexham offers that chance for Wales, then we will go there. I prefer playing anywhere in Wales, but the stadium must be full. It is crucial because I believe that gives us the best opportunity.”

Reflecting on his time as a player, Bellamy recalled scoring one of his most iconic goals at what was then the Millennium Stadium during a remarkable victory over Italy in front of a packed crowd in 2002. Since their last competitive match there, against England in 2011, Wales has played only once at the larger venue — a friendly match against Spain in 2018.

Discussing the victory against Italy, Bellamy recalled, “I also remember how uncomfortable it was during the latter stages when Wales played at the Principality Stadium with only 15,000 or 20,000 people. It was more advantageous for the opposition, and we must capitalize on every small margin. If we are in the Euros and know we will play at the Principality, it makes perfect sense to have several games there for players to familiarize themselves with the environment. This would be common sense.”