UNITED KINGDOM/IRELAND: Today will see the official approval of the UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028. Turkey’s withdrawal to focus on its Euro 2032 joint candidature with Italy has led to the UEFA executive council expected to approve a five-nation plan for the event.
The tournament will take place in June and July 2028, seven years after England and Scotland hosted games during the rescheduled tournament.
The FA is encouraging England to participate in qualifying rounds. The UK-Ireland application, filed in April, calls for ten stadiums, with six in England consisting of one from Scotland, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland.
The six stadiums in England include Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Etihad Stadium, St. James’ Park, Villa Park, and Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The remaining four venues are Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Hampden Park in Glasgow, and a renovated Casement Park in Belfast.
The FAW (Football Association of Wales) chief executive, Noel Mooney and ex UEFA executive has expressed collective desire for a bid to host a series of group games and a few more matches. They believes that four, five, or six matches would be satisfactory for the other associations.
According to reports, European football’s governing body, UEFA, is considering hosting another European Championship in a significant football market after next year’s tournament in Germany. This comes as the pandemic has severely impacted European football reserves.
The five countries have announced a “compelling” and “ground-breaking” plan for UEFA to examine, aiming to leave lasting legacies in Ireland and the UK, following Turkey’s withdrawal.
Wembley is expected to host the Euro final in 2028, a significant challenge for the venue after the controversy surrounding its Euro 2020 staging. Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt emphasized the importance of ensuring no one storms the turnstiles and ensuring that the UEFA Exco members are aware of the plans and accountability. Hewitt emphasized the need to convince everyone involved in the event that they have thought about it and are prepared.
England manager Gareth Southgate praised the opportunity for nations to host Euro 2028, stating that hosting would be a “brilliant opportunity” and a home advantage. Mooney believes Wembley should be the focal point for the conclusion of the tournament.
In terms of security and intelligence, the UK is at the forefront. Since they are so skilled at handling major events, the Euro 2020 final was a challenging day for many on the security front, he said.
Mooney added that the Eurofinals are a unique event in the world, and their security plan is excellent. He said that the tournament should draw in as many spectators as possible, and Wembley can hold 90,000.
He argue that preventing tens of thousands from attending the Eurofinals for politics’ sake should be avoided, and instead believes in increasing attendance at the games.
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