FIFA World Cup: Wales Name Change: Wales’ international football team may change its name following the World Cup. The Welsh football federation wants to designate its teams “Cymru” – the Welsh term for Wales at the international level – to reflect what the country is known as at home. The talks will heat up after the 2018 World Cup in Qatar, when Wales will compete for the first time since 1958. Follow Qatar World Cup updates LIVE on InsideSport.IN.
FIFA World Cup: Wales set to rename as ‘Cymru’ after Qatar World Cup campaign-Check Out
“The team should always be called Cymru, that’s what we call it here,” Noel Mooney, chief executive at the Football Association of Wales, said. “Our view at the moment is that domestically we’re clearly called Cymru. That’s what we call our national teams. If you look at our website, how we talk about ourselves, we are very much Cymru.”
The Wales football team is considering using the Welsh word for Wales, ‘Cymru’, on the international stage after the World Cup. 🏴
Do you want this to happen?
— Peter Gillibrand (@GillibrandPeter) October 31, 2022
The Welsh word for Wales, Cymru, is already used by the FAW in internal and external communications, as well as by workers at the governing body’s headquarters. Noel Mooney, stated that the governing body may follow Turkey’s lead and request that the teams be renamed for international championships. The FAW will consider the advantages of altering the country’s name in European and worldwide competition with different stakeholders in Welsh football and has already conducted initial negotiations with Uefa on the matter.
FIFA World Cup: Wales set to rename as ‘Cymru’ after Qatar World Cup campaign-Check Out
This month, Wales was selected in the same qualification group as Turkey for the 2024 European Championship, bringing the matter to the forefront. Turkey currently competes on the world stage using the Turkish moniker “Turkiye,” rather than the anglicized form. Mooney stated that at various occasions, there have been “unofficial conversations” with UEFA regarding how Turkey and others have been allowed to alter their names to their own language.
“Internationally we feel we have a bit more work to do yet. So we are going to this World Cup as Wales. But I think 2023 will be a year when we have a good discussion with all the different stakeholders.” Mooney said.
“We’re a very open democratic organisation and we don’t just unilaterally decide today to do something like that. I would say it’s the direction of travel, but there’s no firm decisions on it. It’s more almost by osmosis that we’re heading towards it.”
“You’ve seen countries like Azerbaijan, Turkey and others use their own language. They’re quite strong on it and we spoke to the Turkish at the Euro 2024 draw about it. We’ve also had unofficial discussions with Uefa over coffees at different events. Asking how Turkey did this, how other countries did that. “ he concluded.
FIFA World Cup: Wales set to rename as ‘Cymru’ after Qatar World Cup campaign-Check Out
By switching to Cymru, Wales would be lifted from the bottom of Uefa’s alphabetical list of nations during draws and meetings. Mooney, the former Uefa head of strategic development, will took over as FAW CEO in July 2021. The Irishman is presently learning Welsh and plans to host a Q&A session at the National Eisteddfod next summer.
FIFA World Cup: Wales set to rename as ‘Cymru’ after Qatar World Cup campaign-Check Out
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