In a bid to help the Algarve recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced this week that the national football team will be playing three matches at Estádio do Algarve (Algarve Stadium) in September and October.
Portugal will face Ireland on September 1 at 7.45pm for the 2022 World Cup qualification round, followed by a friendly against Qatar on October 9 and another World Cup qualification match against Luxembourg on October 12.
The initial plan was to only host the match against Ireland in the Algarve, but the decision was made to host all three in a region that needs to “recover its economy and tourism sector.”
“It is a great pleasure to return to a region that is in dire need of good news,” said FPF president Fernando Gomes.
Hopes are that fans will be allowed back into stadiums by the time these matches come around said Reinaldo Teixeira, president of the Algarve Football Association (AFA).
“Stadiums have conditions to welcome fans, with the necessary rules. We have already proven that we are an orderly people and I believe that the national health board will show good sense and openness,” he added.
