Ireland and UK submit joint Euro 2028 bid

By Eoin Ryan

Ireland and the UK have submitted a joint bid for the 2028 European Championship with 10 shortlisted stadiums revealed.

Matches would take place in Dublin’s Aviva stadium, Belfast’s Casement Park, Glasgow’s Hampden Park, Cardiff’s Principality stadium, Everton Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, London’s Wembley stadium, Birmingham’s Villa Park, and Newcastle’s St James’ park.

Croke Park is not among the proposed venues despite its capacity of 82,300, the largest in Ireland, and the GAA saying it was “happy to explore” proposals for the stadium to be used.

Dublin’s Aviva stadium is the Republic of Ireland’s sole stadium proposed for the bid on the shortlist.

Casement park is included despite still waiting on redevelopment having lain dormant since 2013 and it is unclear where funding for this will come from. It would be the only venue in Northern Ireland large enough to host Euro 2028 group stages with a proposed capacity of 34,000.

The UK-Ireland bid faces competition from Turkey, with a decision set to be made by the UEFA’s executive committee in September this year.

Sports Minister and Local Fianna Fáil TD, Thomas Byrne, has confirmed the Irish Government’s support for the submission of a final bid by the FAI for the co-hosting of EURO 2028 by Ireland and the UK.

“Hosting Euro 2028 in Ireland would be a tremendous occasion not just for football but for the region and the whole country,” Minister Thomas Byrne said. “From a sporting point of view, it represents an enormous opportunity for football’s development in Ireland and to leave a lasting legacy in this regard.”