Cymru U21 boss Matty Jones says he’s looking forward to returning to Rodney Parade as his side get set to kick off their 2027 UEFA U21 EURO qualifying campaign this Autumn.
Cymru will begin their qualification journey against top seeds Denmark on Monday, 8 September (7.30pm) in Newport — the first step in what Jones hopes will be a historic campaign.
This opener marks the start of a crucial group stage as Cymru aim to qualify for a major European tournament for the first time in their history.
Drawn from Pot 4 in February’s UEFA draw, Cymru will face a tough test in a five-team group featuring Denmark, Belgium, Austria, and Belarus.
After narrowly missing out on qualification last term, the squad earned record-breaking support across Cymru, something Jones, who took charge in 2022, believes will be vital again.
“Rodney Parade has become a favourite for all involved due to making some real positive memories there with the last U21s group, and the relationship between the association and the club has allowed us to have gains that have certainly helped us on the pitch,” he said.
“With everyone being active in regard to engagement, we have gone from 150 spectators at our Men’s U21s fixtures to now seeing figures around 3,000.
“This is all credit to the work behind the scenes and the effort made by the local people of Newport. We would like this campaign to expand that and get people travelling further afield to watch our next generation of international players.”
A major fan favourite last time out was Newport County defender Matt Baker, who thrived on home turf during an impressive campaign. While Baker is no longer eligible for the U21s, County fans may still have a local hero to cheer on.
Midfielder Ben Lloyd, currently on loan at Newport County from Swansea City, is in contention for selection in Jones’ upcoming squad, set to be announced later this month.
“Matt Baker is a real ambassador not just for Newport but for Wales, and he was incredibly supportive in engaging with the community last campaign,” Jones admitted. “Now we are lucky to have the exciting talent of Ben Lloyd playing his football for the club on loan from Swansea City.
“Ben is also someone who understands and is always passionate about giving back his time to the people who support him, so I’m sure we will be doing some great work with Ben around the area to promote what we do.”
With anticipation growing ahead of next month’s opener, Jones is calling on the Red Wall to show up in full force to support the team — both for the Denmark game and the journey beyond.
“My ambition is to one day fill Rodney Parade for a Men’s U21s game through the support of everyone across Wales,” he continued.
“I am clear on our objectives of how to achieve that, both with attractive performances on the pitch and dedicated work off the pitch to build a connection with followers that are passionate about the future of Welsh football.
“We are encouraging schools and clubs to get in touch to be included in our open day MD-1 training session to get close and personal to our players and staff. We would also love as much support for our opening game of the campaign against Denmark.
“It’s a huge challenge versus the top seeds of our group, especially knowing the importance of a strong start to the EURO Championship Qualifiers. We ask for your noise, positivity, and encouragement to spur our boys on to make you proud.”
Ticket and broadcast information for the Denmark match will be announced in due course.
Cymru U21’s UEFA U21 EURO qualifying fixtures
Monday 8 September 2025 – Cymru U21 v Denmark U21 – (Rodney Parade, Newport)
Friday 10 October 2025 – Cymru U21 v Belgium U21 – (Rodney Parade, Newport)
Tuesday 14 October 2025 – Austria U21 v Cymru U21
Friday 14 November 2025 – Belarus U21 v Cymru U21
Friday 27 March 2026 – Cymru U21 v Belarus U21 – (Rodney Parade, Newport)
Tuesday 31 March 2026 – Denmark U21 v Cymru U21
Tuesday 29 September 2026 – Belgium U21 v Cymru U21
Tuesday 6 October 2026 – Cymru U21 v Austria U21 (Venue TBC)
