England Under-21s will play two high-profile friendlies at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol this November. The Young Lions will host Portugal on Friday the 13th and France on Monday the 16th, with both matches kicking off at 7:30pm.
These games are a key part of the squad's preparation for the UEFA U21 EURO Finals in Albania and Serbia next summer. England are aiming to win the tournament for a third consecutive time, having already secured qualification by topping their group.
Preparation for title defence
Head coach Lee Carsley welcomed the challenge of facing two of Europe's strongest nations. "These are exactly the types of games we want for our players," Carsley said. "To face two of Europe’s strongest nations in Portugal and France gives us a fantastic opportunity to test ourselves in preparation for next summer’s finals."
Carsley highlighted the specific value of the fixtures, noting that France were the runners-up in the last UEFA U21 EURO tournament. He also pointed out that Portugal, who were semi-finalists in that competition, have a strong recent record against England, having won the last meeting between the sides 2-0 in a 2021 friendly.
The senior side's recent form provides a positive backdrop. They are on a three-game winning run, with their last result a 3-0 victory over Czechia on October 6th, where the opening goal was scored in the 23rd minute.
A familiar venue
Ashton Gate has a strong history of hosting England teams. This will be the fourth time the Under-21s have played there, with their last visit in 2024 resulting in a 7-0 qualifying win over Azerbaijan. The stadium has also hosted the Lionesses three times and major rugby events.
Ross Wormald, the stadium's Chief Operating Officer, expressed his delight. "We are delighted to welcome England Under-21s to Ashton Gate for the fourth time," Wormald said. "We have a strong relationship with the Football Association and are always honoured to be selected as the host for these fixtures."
Ticket information
Tickets for the double-header are priced at £15 for adults and £7.50 for concessions. Bristol City FC season ticket holders and members receive discounted rates, and a 20% discount is available for those purchasing tickets for both games. Group bookings and hospitality options are also available.
The senior England side's next match is a home fixture against Croatia on November 12th, with Croatia currently second in their group standings. Check the latest standings for the full picture. England Under-21s will then begin their final preparations for the Euros with these two friendlies in Bristol.
This story first appeared at Bristol City FC
