Euro 2028 LIVE: Uefa announce UK and Ireland as hosts - with Euro 2032 location also confirmed
Wembley Stadium is expected to host the Uefa Euro 2028 final with games scheduled for nine other stadiums
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The United Kingdom and Ireland have been announced as the hosts for Uefa Euro 2028 with another joint bid between Turkey and Italy the destination for the 2032 edition.
Uefa granted official approval to both bids, which were unopposed, when they met inSwitzerland on Tuesday morning.
Ten stadiums across the UK and Ireland are set to play host to Euro 2028 with Wembley Stadium (London), Principality Stadium (Cardiff), Hampden Park (Glasgow), Aviva Stadium (Dublin), and Casement Park (Belfast) all named as venues in the bid. The final is due to be held at Wembley, the same location where the Lionesses won the 2022 Euros and where the men lost to Italy in the 2020 Euro final.
Germany host the competition next year after the previous edition was held in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Follow along with all of the latest updates as the 2028 and 2032 hosts are announced.
Will all five home nations get automatic qualification?
A rare happenstance could occur in Euro 2028 that would see one or more of the host nations not participating in their home tournament.
Usually staging a major tournament means the hosts qualify automatically but with Euro 2028 being spread across an unprecedented five nations that is not guaranteed.
In its bid guidelines, Uefa says: “In case of more than two joint-host associations, the automatic qualification of all the host teams cannot be guaranteed and shall be subject to a decision to be made in conjunction with decisions concerning the qualifying competition.”
Uefa are unlikely to offer more than two places to the hosts so, in theory, three of them could miss out.
All five nations will probably try to qualify through merit with two ‘backstop’ qualification spots available for those who may miss out.
The highest-ranking nations who failed to qualify would go through or the two sides that come closest to qualifying.
However, this approach is said to have some reservations within Uefa about offering a ‘backdoor’ entry to nations who have failed to qualify, as well as its potential impact on the normal qualifying process.
The Football Association have rejected one of the automatic qualifying spots for England who will go through the formal process to reach Euro 2028.
This is in part because the FA believes it would provide the team with better preparation for the tournament than a series of friendlies in the build-up.
UK and Ireland to host Euro 2028
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer welcomed the news, saying: “I’m thrilled we’ve secured Euro 2028. It will be the biggest sporting event ever jointly hosted in the UK and Ireland.
“We will put on a brilliant tournament with fans at its heart. We will warmly welcome fans from across Europe to our islands’ shores and give people memories that will last a lifetime.
“On top of that, the tournament is expected to deliver up to £2.6bn of socio-economic benefit across the host nations, creating jobs and opportunities.”
Reaction from Scottish FA chief
Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell spoke after the UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028 was successful.
He said: “Throughout the bidding process, the commitment and support received from our longstanding partners at Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, EventScotland, and Police Scotland, has been pivotal in delivering a successful outcome for Scotland, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“It is a tremendous privilege, and honour, to again be awarded “Euro” host status, and I look forward to the building upon the existing strength of our unique partnership as we begin the journey towards 2028.”
FA reveal tournament plans after UK and Ireland confirmed as Euro 2028 hosts
The hosts of Euro 2028 will be the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland after a joint bid across the five nations was confirmed by Uefa on Tuesday.
Following a meeting of Uefa’s Executive Committee, the UK and Ireland was awarded the 2028 tournament in a rare five-association partnership,
The UK and Ireland bid delegation included six football youth ambassadors who support the development and diversity of the game as well as a presentation by the five Football Association leaders and former Wales captain Gareth Bale.
Euro 2028 will be the largest major sporting event ever held across all five nations and is set to be a commercial success, delivering record crowd numbers at famous venues.
FA reveal tournment plans after UK and Ireland confirmed as Euro 2028 hosts
Uefa announced that the five nations would host the upcoming competition
Euro 2028 host stadiums
Wales: Principality Stadium
The Cardiff venue has hosted major European football events before, having staged the 2017 Champions League final. Set to be the second-largest venue in the tournament with a capacity of 74,500.
As part of the bid Cardiff asked to host the opening match of the tournament which is likely to be confirmed in due course.
Euro 2028 host stadiums
Scotland: Hampden Park
Scotland’s national stadium did host matches at Euro 2020.
The Scottish Football Association has also bid to stage the Champions League final in 2026 or 2027 at the stadium, which currently holds just over 50,000.
However, developers have put forward proposals to upgrade the stadium and increase capacity to 65,000.
Euro 2028 host stadiums
Republic of Ireland: Aviva Stadium
The Dublin venue, which holds over 51,000 people, regularly hosts Republic of Ireland football matches and those of the Ireland rugby union team, as well as high-profile Gaelic sports.
The stadium had been part of the original multi-country plans to host Euro 2020 but could not ultimately provide Uefa with the necessary assurances over minimum spectator levels amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Euro 2028 host stadiums
Northern Ireland: Casement Park
Construction on the site in the Andersonstown area of Belfast is due to get under way next year with completion by 2026. The capacity of the stadium is set to be 34,500 but there are funding issues which still need to be resolved.
Euro 2028 host stadiums
England: Wembley Stadium
England’s national stadium is widely expected to host the final, having also been the venue for the Euro 96 finale and the decisive England vs Italy clash at Euro 2020.
The Football Association will be working hard with the authorities to ensure there is no repeat of the chaotic scenes which surrounded that match.
Wembley is celebrating its centenary this year, with the original stadium opening in 1923 for the British Empire Exhibition.
Euro 2028 host stadiums
England: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Spurs’ home is the largest club stadium in London, with a capacity of over 62,000. Opened in April 2019, the stadium includes a retractable pitch with a synthetic NFL surface underneath.
Built for £1bn what it lacks in history it makes up for with modernisation.
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