UK & Ireland set to host Euro 2028 after all other bids withdraw

The United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland are set to co-host Euro 2028 in five years’ time after Turkey’s withdrawal from the process left their joint effort as the sole remaining bid.

England and Scotland each hosted games at Euro 2020, with Wembley Stadium the venue chosen for the final. But shocking security failures and the atrocious behaviour of England fans desperate to see the country in what was a first senior men’s final in 55 years left doubts as to whether a major tournament would return at any point in the foreseeable future.

Fans trampled security fencing around the perimeter of Wembley and many without tickets dangerously forced their way inside, leading to unsafe conditions.

An FA-commissioned report later described the scenes of chaos and disorder a “national shame”.

The UK (collectively England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the Republic of Ireland were initially intending to launch a bid for the 2030 World Cup. However, it was confirmed in early 2022 that interest was being dropped and refocused to Euro 2028 instead.

There was previously an expression of interest in a joint Nordic bid from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Faroe Islands and Iceland. Portugal and Spain also considered a joint bid, as did south-eastern quartet Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia. But none moved forward.

Italy did submit an official bid before deciding to defer and target Euro 2032 instead. Turkey has submitted bids for every European Championship since 2008, but have withdrawn theirs for 2028. There was also a Russian bid that was ruled ineligible by UEFA following the invasion of Ukraine.

With the UK and Ireland bid the only one left standing, the countries are set to co-host Euro 2028 by default. It will mark the first time a major international tournament has been played in Wales, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, although the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was a candidate venue for the continent-wide Euro 2020 that was eliminated from the process.

In April 2023, the UK and Ireland bid put forward a list of 10 proposed stadiums, cutting down an earlier list of 14 – Old Trafford, London Stadium, Stadium of Light and Croke Park were trimmed.

Wembley, the Millennium Stadium and a reconstructed Hampden Park will be the leading venues at Euro 2028. Casement Park in Belfast is also slated for renovation, while the Aviva Stadium in Dublin will represent the Republic of Ireland. The five remaining proposed stadiums are all in England.