Euro 2020 Postponed Until 2021 by UEFA amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Matt JonesFeatured ColumnistMarch 17, 2020

DANIEL MIHAILESCU/Getty Images

The UEFA European Championship, initially scheduled for the summer of 2020, has been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

European football's governing body confirmed the news on Tuesday, per Henry Winter of The Times:

Henry Winter @henrywinter
Inevitable. Only possible decision. Confirmation from ⁦@UEFA⁩ of Euro 2020 becoming Euro 2021 https://t.co/5faV7PvA88

Sean Ingle of the Guardian relayed quotes from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who explained why the decision had been taken:

Sean Ingle @seaningle
Euro 2020 postponed for year - Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin explains why below: https://t.co/kidCYl208f

England reacted to the news:

England @England
Hope. Expectation. Excitement. We couldn’t wait for the nation to unite in support of the #ThreeLions this summer. But now is the time to come together in a different way. Stay safe, stay home and take care of one another. @wembleystadium will roar again soon. https://t.co/eZkQdXJc2E

The competition was initially scheduled to take place across numerous European nations between June 12 and July 12; the tournament will now go ahead on June 11, a year on.

The decision to postpone the event will provide European leagues with an opportunity to finish their respective competitions. The vast majority of league seasons across the continent have been put on hold due to the spread of COVID-19.

On Twitter, UEFA said that after a meeting on Tuesday, "a working group has been set up with the participation of leagues and club representatives to examine calendar solutions that would allow for the completion of the current season."

In addition to the European Championship, it was also announced the Copa America, the South American continental competition, will be suspended for a year:

B/R Football @brfootball
BREAKING: Copa America is postponed until June 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic https://t.co/Kr3VlMotd2

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UEFA added that all international friendlies have been postponed, while the play-off matches for the upcoming European Championship will go ahead in June, subject to a review.

In the summer of 2021, the UEFA Women's European Championship is set to take place in England, with the tournament due to start on July 7, just four days before the new date of the men's final.