Amsterdam bidding for 2020 Euro

The Dutch football association KNVB will propose Amsterdam as a host city for the 2020 UEFA European Championship. KNVB will bid for three group matches and one round of 16 match. Host cities approved for group stage matches will see their country represented on their pitch twice. The national football association approved the measure at its general meeting on Monday in Zeist, according to RTL Nieuws. The deadline for the submission to UEFA is April 25th, 2014. KNVB will also try to secure the entirety of the 2017 Women's European Championship, with 16 countries invited to participate. UEFA broke with tradition for the 16th edition of the men's tournament, deciding to hold the matches in up to 13 cities across Europe. Of the 14 tournaments held since 1960, 11 have taken place entirely in one country, while the other three took place across two countries who bid for the tournament in a joint proposal. Currently, the Amsterdam ArenA does not have the seating capacity required by UEFA to host later rounds. The international association wants quarterfinal fixtures held in stadiums with 60,000 seats, and the semifinals and final in a 70,000-person stadium. Capacity for the ArenA during football matches is about 53,000.