David Beckham and and Co will take on World Cup surprise package Japan and an as-yet unchosen European team in a three-country challenge, with all games held in the 48,000-seat City of Manchester stadium in early June.
It is a major coup for the club which has vowed to ensure year-round use of the stadium that came to world prominence when it staged the Commonwealth Games. City already have big plans to bring world-class pop artists to their new home.
The FA, which has have sent delegates to the stadium several times already this season, will not make an official announcement about the tournament until they have consulted England team boss Sven Goran Eriksson about his preferences for possible opponents.
No country in England's Euro 2004 group B, which begins on June 12th, would be suitable, which rules out France, Switzerland and Croatia. But there is a possibility England's final warm up matches could include a game against a seeded Euro 2004 nation, such as Italy or Germany.
The FA has had a policy of going national with the England squad while Wembley is being rebuilt and they have already played several internationals at Old Trafford.
In addition to the Theatre of Dreams, the England roadshow has visited Sunderland's Stadium of Light, Portman Road (Ipswich), Elland Road (Leeds), Liverpool's Anfield, St James Park (Newcastle), the Riverside Stadium (Middlesbrough), Derby County's Pride Park, Southampton's new headquarters and White Hart Lane.
City's board is convinced there will soon be an announcement from UEFA that a European final will be played at the Eastlands stadium.
A UEFA delegate said he was highly impressed with the all-seater stadium, that boasts spacious parking facilities.
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i think it will be good if we can bring some outer people into Manchester to make them see how fab it is. Also a chance for me to make my freinds love manchester in the way i do
"Don't bother going to the expense of building the new Wembley, we'll play all our games here, this place is fantastic!! It's the best stadium in the country."
D Beckham, June 2004.
eastlands is terrible inside, bland, passionless.. horrible.
If England come here they will be in for a shock.