UK & Ireland have shortlisted 14 stadiums - of which a final 10 will be selected for the official bid.
With Turkey bidding at the last possible second, it's still not a guarantee that the tournament is coming to us. UEFA's decision is expected in September next year.
The 14 stadiums, listed by capacity, on the shortlist are:
Wembley Stadium (capacity 90k)
Croke Park (capacity 82k)
Old Trafford (capacity 74k)
Millenium Stadium (capacity 74k)
London Stadium (capacity 66k)
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (capacity 63k)
City of Manchester Stadium (capacity 53k)
Everton Stadium (new - proposed capacity 52k)
St James Park (capacity 52k)
Hampden Park (capacity 51k)
Lansdowne Road Stadium (capacity 51k)
Villa Park (expansion planned - proposed capacity 50k)
Stadium of Light (capacity 49k)
Casement Park Stadium (pending redevelopment - proposed capacity 34k)
You'd imagine that Wembley, Lansdowne/Aviva, Hampden and Millenium/Principality are guaranteed to be included in the final 10.
That leaves ten more venues with only six more needed for the official bid.
I'd be shocked if they don't choose the shiny new Everton stadium as well as Villa Park as the only midlands venue on the shortlist. You'd also imagine it would be a 50/50 choice between the Manchester stadiums and likewise with Newcastle and Sunderland in the North East.
That leaves four stadiums in the shortlist unaccounted for (Croke Park, Casement Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Stadium) with only two more needed to make up the final bid.
Stadium of Light - Everton - Etihad - New White Hart Lane
I'd only pick London Stadium over Spurs because its a Stadium that was built for these types of event, rather than West Ham
Am surprised the Emirates or Anfield haven't t been put forward.
I’d leave Hampden out. Dilapidated stadium with awful transport links. Ibrox or Celtic Park would be much better (I’d even take Murrayfield over Hampden).
Would definitely include Spurs’ stadium, one of the best stadiums in the world and comfortably better than anything else in the British Isles.
Stadium of Light - Everton - Etihad - New White Hart Lane
I'd only pick London Stadium over Spurs because its a Stadium that was built for these types of event, rather than West Ham
Am surprised the Emirates or Anfield haven't t been put forward.
I’d leave Hampden out. Dilapidated stadium with awful transport links. Ibrox or Celtic Park would be much better (I’d even take Murrayfield over Hampden).
Would definitely include Spurs’ stadium, one of the best stadiums in the world and comfortably better than anything else in the British Isles.
Unfortunately none of those three have been included in the shortlist so it'll be Hampden or nothing for Scotland...
Stadium of Light - Everton - Etihad - New White Hart Lane
I'd only pick London Stadium over Spurs because its a Stadium that was built for these types of event, rather than West Ham
Am surprised the Emirates or Anfield haven't t been put forward.
I’d leave Hampden out. Dilapidated stadium with awful transport links. Ibrox or Celtic Park would be much better (I’d even take Murrayfield over Hampden).
Would definitely include Spurs’ stadium, one of the best stadiums in the world and comfortably better than anything else in the British Isles.
Unfortunately none of those three have been included in the shortlist so it'll be Hampden or nothing for Scotland...
Oh I know, was just saying what I would do if I had the power. Final would probably be played at the Valley in that scenario though!
Thought they were steadfast in their opposition to football being played there and only want GAA sports there ?
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Exactly this. Just been to Pàirc Uì Chaoimh to watch Munster v South Africa. A fabulous stadium & great to stand on a terrace again. It’s also used for gigs. They also gave in to house the Liam Millar memorial match after massive criticism. Croke Park will be the same. Money talks. I never thought I’d see it but there you are.
Just a thought…how are UEFA going to feel about granting automatic qualification to FIVE countries, as joint hosts?? Surely they won’t go for that. Can only remember joint hosts before, but 5 is taking the proverbial a bit 🤷🏻♂️
Just a thought…how are UEFA going to feel about granting automatic qualification to FIVE countries, as joint hosts?? Surely they won’t go for that. Can only remember joint hosts before, but 5 is taking the proverbial a bit 🤷🏻♂️
Uefa is not expected to offer five automatic qualification places for Euro 2028 if a joint Britain and Ireland bid to host the tournament is successful.
The five nations — England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland — confirmed their intention to bid for the European Championship to be held in six years’ time after cancelling plans to bid for the 2030 World Cup.
Traditionally, the host or hosts of a major international tournament — be that the European Championship or World Cup — are handed automatic qualification spots by the organiser. But i has learned that it is unlikely Uefa would extend that offer to accommodate all five nations.
Two automatic qualification passes were handed to Belgium and Holland when they became the competition’s first joint-hosts at Euro 2000, while Switzerland and Austria and Ukraine and Poland were also given automatic spots when they collaborated to host Euro 2008 and 2012 respectively.
But, while the Euro 2028 tournament regulations are yet to be finalised, Uefa is not keen on allowing more than two host countries to qualify automatically for a competition. When the first pan-European competition was organised for Euro 2020, to celebrate the competition’s 60th anniversary, none of the 11 host countries were issued automatic places.
It is expected that Euro 2028 will be a 32-team tournament, increasing from 24, but even if that is ratified it is unlikely to change Uefa’s stance should the Britain and Ireland bid win the rights. Executives of the five nations intend to discuss the issue with Uefa if the bid progresses.
Asked last week what the Britain and Ireland bid team intend to do if five spots are not granted, Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson said: “We all want to be there, obviously. The Euros is such a fantastic tournament, we’ve all experienced it before and are looking forward to putting a great bid together for 2028. Those are discussions we’ll have with Uefa. We’d all love to qualify automatically.
“If it’s a 24 team tournament, that’s 51 games. If it’s a 32 team tournament, that’s 63 games. We’re pretty confident as a five-nation group we’ll be able to handle either of those scenarios. Performances on the field are what matters in terms of qualification and we’ll have those discussions in some detail with Uefa later in terms of whether there are any host places.”
Just a thought…how are UEFA going to feel about granting automatic qualification to FIVE countries, as joint hosts?? Surely they won’t go for that. Can only remember joint hosts before, but 5 is taking the proverbial a bit 🤷🏻♂️
They could always allow ROI in and the other four could play off for the final place.
I would like to see a bit more geographical spread. The west of Ireland with a game at Thomond Park, and a game at Pittodrie in the north of Scotland. Clearly won’t happen but it would be good in my view.
I would like to see a bit more geographical spread. The west of Ireland with a game at Thomond Park, and a game at Pittodrie in the north of Scotland. Clearly won’t happen but it would be good in my view.
Agree, it's a shame. I would've liked to have seen 2 stadiums in each country (perhaps NI apart).
It's a shame that it looks like everyone gets one (perhaps ROI get two if Croke Park is chosen) and England (London & the North West) get the rest.
I understand those are more convenient than Thomond or Pittodrie from a transport links perspective. Still, would've been great to see major cities like Edinburgh, Swansea, Cork get a look in.
If it is a good idea to go places and hold tournaments, then actually go places. Otherwise repeatedly hold tournaments in the same European or World stadiums.
Again it’s not just the stadiums that are important, it’s the availability in the cities that the stadiums are located of sufficient hotel rooms, hospitality (restaurants etc) and decent public transport links. That’s why major cities are typically picked.
Not choosing Edinburgh to host games is a miss however.
I would like to see a bit more geographical spread. The west of Ireland with a game at Thomond Park, and a game at Pittodrie in the north of Scotland. Clearly won’t happen but it would be good in my view.
Great idea for international fans trying to get there.
Comments
With Turkey bidding at the last possible second, it's still not a guarantee that the tournament is coming to us. UEFA's decision is expected in September next year.
The 14 stadiums, listed by capacity, on the shortlist are:
You'd imagine that Wembley, Lansdowne/Aviva, Hampden and Millenium/Principality are guaranteed to be included in the final 10.
That leaves ten more venues with only six more needed for the official bid.
I'd be shocked if they don't choose the shiny new Everton stadium as well as Villa Park as the only midlands venue on the shortlist. You'd also imagine it would be a 50/50 choice between the Manchester stadiums and likewise with Newcastle and Sunderland in the North East.
That leaves four stadiums in the shortlist unaccounted for (Croke Park, Casement Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Stadium) with only two more needed to make up the final bid.
Stadium of Light - Everton - Etihad - New White Hart Lane
I'd only pick London Stadium over Spurs because its a Stadium that was built for these types of event, rather than West Ham
Am surprised the Emirates or Anfield haven't t been put forward.
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2022/09/why-anfield-wont-be-able-to-host-potential-euro-2028-matches/
Would definitely include Spurs’ stadium, one of the best stadiums in the world and comfortably better than anything else in the British Isles.
Just been to Pàirc Uì Chaoimh to watch Munster v South Africa.
A fabulous stadium & great to stand on a terrace again.
It’s also used for gigs.
They also gave in to house the Liam Millar memorial match after massive criticism.
Croke Park will be the same.
Money talks.
I never thought I’d see it but there you are.
You're making it up as you go along...
Clearly won’t happen but it would be good in my view.
Very nice too.
It's a shame that it looks like everyone gets one (perhaps ROI get two if Croke Park is chosen) and England (London & the North West) get the rest.
I understand those are more convenient than Thomond or Pittodrie from a transport links perspective. Still, would've been great to see major cities like Edinburgh, Swansea, Cork get a look in.
Otherwise repeatedly hold tournaments in the same European or World stadiums.
Not choosing Edinburgh to host games is a miss however.