Nations Cup (football)
Template:Future sport The 4 Associations Tournament (also called Four Associations Tournament) is a future biennial international association football tournament involving the national Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales teams. The tournament was initially proposed in 2006.[1]
It will be structured as a round robin league with home and away fixtures alternating between tournaments.[2] The Cup was initially due to be a revival of the British Home Championship, which was cancelled in 1984 because of increasing fixture congestion, but due to the lack of interest from the Football Association, the Football Association of Ireland was invited to take England's place. The Welsh FA hold out the possibility of the English joining at a later date.[3]
In April 2008, it was announced the tournament had been delayed until 2011 at the earliest due to fixture congestion.[4] Under the proposed format, matches would be played in February and May, with the location rotating on a "tournament-by-tournament basis".[5]
On 18 September 2008, it was announced that a tournament featuring the four teams would be played in Dublin in 2011.[6]
List of tournaments
| Year | Location | Champions | Second | Third | Fourth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Dublin, Ireland |
References
- ^ "Sanchez wants Celtic tournament". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
- ^ "'Celtic Cup' set to start in 2009". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
- ^ "Home internationals resurrection edges a step closer". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
- ^ "'Four Nations' plan faces delay". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
- ^ "Celtic Cup given go-ahead". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "Celtic nations to play 2011 event". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 September 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
