Brussels is official candidate to host Euro 2020

The Belgian Football Association has officially applied to become co-organiser of the European Football Championship in 2020, it announced yesterday during a press conference in Brussels’ City Hall.

Euro 2020 will be played in 13 different countries. It took a long time for an agreement to be reached with the various governments and external parties in Belgium, but Brussels has finally submitted its candidacy. UEFA, the governing body of European football, will announce the hosts in September this year.

"I am very proud and happy to announce that the Belgian Football Association has submitted its candidacy to UEFA," declared union chairman François De Keersmaecker. "We hope to organise four matches during the European Championships, including the opening match."

Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo was also pleased with the bid. "With this project we can put Brussels and Belgium even more on the map,” he said. “Sports bring people together. Let’s all work together to make this candidacy a success.”