Wales is gearing up for a monumental summer as the UEFA Men's Under-19 Championship finals arrive in north Wales, setting the stage for an even bigger event just two years away: co-hosting Euro 2028. FAW chief executive Noel Mooney calls this tournament a perfect "appetite whetter" for what's to come.
With Cardiff set to host the opening match of Euro 2028 alongside England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, Welsh football fans have plenty to look forward to. After missing out on this year's World Cup, the focus now shifts to the next European Championships. Mooney describes the upcoming Euros as "phenomenal" for Welsh football, and the Under-19 finals are the ideal warm-up act.
"It's two years out of 2028, so the association is starting to look towards that," Mooney explains. "This competition gives us an opportunity to prepare almost for that. This tournament will whet the appetite."
The Under-19 tournament carries extra significance as the FAW celebrates its 150th anniversary. The association was founded in Wrexham back in 1876, and Mooney sees this summer's event as a chance to create a lasting legacy for football in north Wales. "If you look at the enthusiasm for football across north Wales, it's huge," he says. "This tournament will just add more fuel onto the fire of what is the halcyon days of football across north Wales."
Beyond the excitement of international competition, the FAW is focused on building for the future. Mooney emphasizes that the tournament's legacy goes beyond the pitch. "While this tournament is the best of football coming to north Wales, for us it's a bit more about the future in terms of the talent that gets to play against these ones, which is good for the national teams. But there's also a legacy for the domestic game. We're investing millions of pounds in facilities across north Wales. So these stadiums and training venues in villages and towns across north Wales will very much leave a lasting memory for Welsh football."
Wrexham's Stok Cae Ras—the oldest international football venue still in existence—will be at the heart of the action, blending history with a bright new chapter. Whether you're cheering on the next generation of stars or dreaming of Euro 2028, this summer promises to be unforgettable for Welsh football fans everywhere.