Wales

Wales as a country has always had something of an on-off relationship with football. For many a proud Welshman the country’s sport will always be rugby, yet when the national football team goes up against England or qualifies for a major tournament, there is a palpable sense of expectation that sweeps across the country. This on-off affair is also reflected in the Wales Football Association’s use of The Millennium Stadium, currently called The Principality Stadium for sonship reasons. The Millennium Stadium was principally built as a new ground for the Welsh Rugby Union and replaced The National Stadium, better known as Cardiff Arms Park. It opened in 1999 in order to be used for Wales’ hosting of the 1999 Rugby World Cup. The Welsh FA, who had been sharing their home games between the grounds of Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham until 1989, moved with the RFU to the new ground, signing an agreement that would see their games played there until 2010. Nowadays the majority of Welsh Football’s games are played at The Cardiff City Stadium, with only significant matches, such as against England, played out at The Millennium Stadium.