Cyprus to host UEFA Under-17 Championship for the first time

Cyprus hosts the UEFA Under-17 Championship which kicks off on Monday.

The country hosts the tournament, the biggest football event ever held in Cyprus, between May 20 and June 5, through the Cyprus Football Association (CFA).

The schedule of today's premiere includes four matches for Group A and Group B, with Cyprus playing against the Czech Republic, at 20:30, and Serbia against Ukraine at 18:00 in Group A.

The official start of the event will take place before the Cyprus-Czech Republic match, at around 20:00.

For Group B, the first matchday includes the games Denmark - Wales at 18:00, and Croatia - Austria at 20:30.

Cyprus’ national team coach, Chrysis Michael, in his statements, congratulated the CFA for bringing “this great event” to Cyprus.

“It is an honour for our entire country to host such events”, he said, adding that the Cyprus team will do everything it can to be competitive and assertive.

He emphasised that the first match against the Czech Republic was important “and we are looking forward to entering the field” after a year of training and anticipation.

CFA spokesman Constantinos Shamboullis told CNA that that this was the biggest football event held in Cyprus.

Asked by CNA, he said that Cyprus had organised in 1992 and 1998, the U16 and U18, respectively, but that this was the first time it is organising a tournament of this level and with these specifications.

Sixteen teams are participating in total, divided into four groups while 31 matches are scheduled.

The matches are to be held in six stadiums: the Tasos Markou, the AEK Arena, the Antonis Papadopoulos, the Famagusta - Epistrofi, in Dasaki Ahnas, with the final taking place on June 5 at the “Alphamega” Stadium, in Limassol.

The semi-finals are scheduled for June 2 and the final on June 5 in Limassol

The Cyprus Football Association was to host the final U17 tournament in 2021, but the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.