Euro 2028 will be held in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with the joint hosts receiving the tournament without having to compete with other bids.
Turkey is expected to withdraw its candidacy after losing two recent bids to host the Euros in 2016 and 2024, and they don’t want to lose again, while Russia’s planned bid is a no-go due to the country’s suspension from international sport.
About the Euro 2028
UEFA is said to be open to an unopposed competition because it would provide certainty during a tough moment in which the country is embroiled in a conflict in eastern Europe and all of its 55 national associations are struggling financially following massive losses during the pandemic.
The formal bidding process was scheduled to last until September 2023, however, if just one bid is received, the procedure would be cut short. If the UK and Ireland efforts satisfy the organizer’s technical requirements, which is considered a formality, UEFA will declare the hosts much sooner.
The five football associations — England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland — only confirmed their desire to bid last month after ruling out a more ambitious bid for the 2030 World Cup.
They seem to be the sole contenders ahead of the March 23 deadline for filing an intention to seek, after the Turkish FA told UEFA that they would only compete for the tournament if they were unopposed, and Russia was ruled out following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
UEFA and United Kingdom
During informal negotiations last year, UEFA strongly backed a UK and Ireland bid because they are seen as risk-free hosts who could stage a financially successful event in front of adoring fans in sold-out stadiums.
Euro 2024 will be held in Germany, but UEFA executives have voiced a strong desire for the next competition to be held in another major country where huge earnings can be guaranteed after the European competition organizer lost nearly £700 million last year owing to Covid.
The crime that blighted last summer’s Euro 2020 final at Wembley has not been held against the FA’s engagement in the bid, with UEFA viewing it as a one-off event triggered by England’s first major final appearance in 55 years and a mass release of frustration following the emergence from lockdown — with much of the blame falling on the Metropolitan Police for their poor security activity.
Other Matches
Except for the final, all of the matches held in England last year were deemed a success. The FA was also thanked by UEFA for stepping in at short notice to host additional games at Wembley and for exerting pressure on the government to exempt visiting dignitaries from Covid travel restrictions.
By developing a feasibility assessment for the 2030 World Cup bid, the FA was able to set much of the groundwork for the tournament, and many of the proposals in that document can be transferred to the Euro 2028 proposal. For Euro 2028, UEFA is likely to expand the competition from 24 to 32 teams, necessitating the use of a minimum of 12 host venues.
Major issue to be Resolved
The one main issue to be resolved is how to ensure that matches may be held in Northern Ireland, as Windsor Park in Belfast, with a capacity of only 18,500, does not meet UEFA’s tournament requirement that all venues have a minimum capacity of 30,000.
A new stadium in Northern Ireland is being considered, but it is anticipated that expanding Windsor Park to 25,000 seats will suffice to satisfy UEFA, especially given the compelling political dimension of organizing a cross-border event on the island of Ireland.
The Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Principality in Cardiff, and Hampden Park in Glasgow will all be utilized, with Murrayfield in Edinburgh and Croke Park in Dublin all being considered.
The final will almost certainly be held at Wembley Stadium, but competition for other games in England, notably in London, will be high. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is almost certain to be included, so either Arsenal’s Emirates or West Ham’s London Stadium may be overlooked.
The organizers will aim for a geographical spread across the country, with options including Villa Park and the King Power Stadium in the Midlands, Old Trafford, and the Etihad in Manchester, Anfield, and Everton’s proposed new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock on Merseyside, Newcastle’s St James’ Park, and Elland Road in Leeds.
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