The UEFA Executive Committee has chosen Malta to host the UEFA U19 European Championship in 2023, the Malta FA said.
“Today’s decision rewards the efforts of the Malta FA to get to this unique milestone,” the association said.
In his first reaction Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo said: “I am delighted that the country and the Malta Football Association have yet again been entrusted to host a major event as the final phase of a UEFA tournament. In these challenging times for all, this decision by the UEFA Executive Committee provides us with a great opportunity to project Maltese football beyond our shores, as we didin 2014.”
The Malta FA said it will be looking to build on the the successful organisation of the UEFA U17 European Championship hosted in Malta seven years ago, in 2014.
“Through this tournament the Association will aim to leave a legacy interms of fan engagement and overall experience, particularly in the grassroots sector. Furthermore, with the support of the government, the existing and new infrastructure that will be used to host the tournament will certainly be given a boost which will also benefit the entire domestic football family.”
Hosting a major international event was one of the objectives set in the Association’s strategy ‘We Can Perform Better’.