Platini announces revolutionary format for Euro 2020

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Published time: January 26, 2013 08:54
Edited time: January 26, 2013 12:54

UEFA President Michel Platini says 13 different countries across the continent will host the Euro 2020 games as European football’s governing body tries to reduce economic pressure on host nations.

France would be the last single Euro host nation in 2016 as UEFA plans to start dispersing matches throughout Europe in 2020.

Nations will submit bids to host so-called "packages" of games, with the semifinals and final to be held in just one country. Each country will have to prepare just one stadium for the event.

“The matches will be split into 13 different packages with 12 ordinary packages including three group matches and one knockout round, and one package for the semi-finals and the final,” Platini told UEFA's executive committee in Nyon on Friday.

The bidding will kick off in April, with the final decision to be made in September 2014. The tournament will feature 24 teams and will have the same format as Euro 2016.