Why Wrexham, Swansea and Cardiff could play in Europe under new proposals

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·13. Januar 2025

Why Wrexham, Swansea and Cardiff could play in Europe under new proposals

Wales’ four English Football League clubs are closing in on a chance to qualify for European football via a revamped Welsh League Cup.

Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County have been working with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) on changes which could see them play under the Welsh flag in Europe for the first time in 30 years.

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The four clubs would be allowed to remain in league and cup football in England, but they would surrender their ability to qualify for Europe through these competitions. Swansea were the last Welsh team to do this in 2013 when they won the EFL Cup and qualified for the Europa League.

The current Welsh League Cup would be expanded from 12 teams to 16, with the four EFL sides joining the current Cymru Premier teams – Wales’ top flight, with the winners earning qualification to the UEFA Conference League.

Having presented their plans to UEFA, the Welsh and UK governments and the Welsh top flight clubs, FA approval is required to give the proposal titled Prosiect Cymru (Project Wales) the green light.

On Monday, the FAW outlined its vision for the revamped competition with a mission statement which said:

The new Welsh League Cup will generate at least £3m each season to be invested in “grassroots infrastructure projects, women’s football, Cymru Premier clubs and FAW Tier Two clubs”.
The four EFL clubs have “agreed to exclude any profit derived by representing Wales in Uefa competitions for financial regulations in the English Football League or the English Premier League”.
The four clubs are “totally committed to playing in the English system” and Prosiect Cymru would not jeopardise their status in the English pyramid.
The Welsh League Cup will consist of 16 teams with four rounds of single-leg knockout matches, starting in the 2025-26 season.
There will be a review of the competition after four years “to ensure that it is delivering the intended benefits for key stakeholders, and Welsh football and society, with all options on the table if it is not”.