UEFA Regions Cup comes to Wales
Domestic
24 May 2018

UEFA Regions Cup comes to Wales

The domestic football season may be coming to a close, but one group of players are about to represent their country in Europe, as the UEFA Regions Cup 2018/19 Preliminary Round gets underway. 

The accolade of representing Wales once again goes to South Wales FA, who were 2-0 winners in the FAW Regions Cup Final against North Wales Coast FA last month. This time though there’s a difference, as Wales will host a Preliminary Round Qualifying Group for the first time. Here’s what you need to know.

What is the UEFA Regions Cup?

The UEFA Regions' Cup brings together the best amateur teams in the continent.

Each of UEFA’s National Associations can nominate their domestic Regions Cup Champions for the competition, which occurs every two years.

39 Associations have entered the 2018/19 competition. 12 enter at the Preliminary Round stage, with the remaining 27 entering in the Intermediate Round.

Preliminary Round

The 12 teams in the Preliminary Round are drawn into three groups of four, meeting in a mini-tournament hosted by one member of the group.

Wales are in Group A, and will host teams from Sweden, Greece and FYR Macedonia.

The Group A mini-tournament will run from 4th-10th June, with games being played at Barry Town United’s Jenner Park and Cardiff Met FC’s Cyncoed Campus.

Each group winner progresses to the Intermediate Round, alongside the two best placed runners-up.

Intermediate and Final Rounds

The Intermediate Round sees the 5 qualifiers from the previous round and the 27 other sides drawn into eight groups of four teams, again hosted by one member of the group.

The 8 group winners then progress to the Final Round, hosted by one of the qualifiers. Teams are drawn into two groups of four, with the group winners meeting in the Final to determine the overall winner.

Group A Participants

South Wales FA (Wales) – South Wales FA will once again represent Wales, having done so in the 2016/17 edition. Coming through Group B of the FAW Regions Cup with four wins from four, they defeated North Wales Coast FA in the Final 2-0 thanks to goals from Chris Colvin-Owens and Asa Lloyd, both of Penydarren BGC.

Evia Region (Greece) – Evia (or Euboea) is the second largest of the Greek Islands, a narrow strip of water separating it from the mainland close to the capital Athens. Evia won the HFF (Greek Football Federation) Regions Cup, beating Xanthi in the final on penalties.

Amateurs FYR Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) – The Amateurs are a representative amateur side of the Macedonian Football Federation (FFM).

Region of Gothenburg (Sweden) -  FK Kozara are representing the Gothenburg Football Federation (GFF) region of Sweden. Currently playing in Div 3 Nordvästra Göt (5th tier of Swedish football), they defeated Hestrafors IF in the two-legged final of the Swedish Regions Cup qualifying tournament. 

Fixtures

Monday 4 June

Amateurs FYR Macedonia v Evia (Cyncoed Campus, 15:00)

South Wales v Region of Gothenburg (Jenner Park, 19:00)

Thursday 7 June

Evia v Region of Gothenburg (Cyncoed Campus, 15:00)

South Wales v Amateurs FYR Macedonia (Jenner Park, 19:00)

Sunday 10 June

Evia v South Wales (Jenner Park, 16:00)

Region of Gothenburg v Amateurs FYR Macedonia (Cyncoed Campus, 16:00)