UEFA has confirmed the UK and the Republic of Ireland will host Euro 2028 after their bid went unopposed.
The ambitious project passed UEFA’s penultimate deadline of April 12 to complete a full proposal to Europe’s governing body.
Less than a week before UEFA’s executive committee was set to make a final decision, the only other rival bid from Turkey withdrew.
Turkey is now set to co-host Euro 2032 with Italy, with both bids coming before the ExCo for official approval on October 10.
The UK/Ireland bid was officially ratified by UEFA’s ExCo, meaning tournament planning can now begin in earnest. The bid features 10 stadiums spread across five UEFA members, including a string of household Premier League venues.
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Euro 2028 — UK/Ireland cities
A major challenge facing the UK/Ireland bid comes through the need to ensure England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all have at least one representative venue.
The confirmed list of stadiums has caused some controversy, as it includes Everton’s prospective Bramley Moore Dock Stadium, which is not due to be completed until 2024.
London
Manchester
Liverpool
Newcastle
Cardiff
Birmingham
Glasgow
Dublin
Belfast
Euro 2028 — UK/Ireland stadiums
Wembley Stadium
Year Constructed — Renovated stadium opened in 2007
Estimated Cost — £789m/$988m
Capacity — 90,000
Grass/Artificial — Grass
Wembley has the most experience of hosting international tournament football with its previous incarnation hosting eight games at the 1966 World Cup, including England’s final win over West Germany.
The old ground also hosted six matches at Euro ’96 and the current version hosted six of England’s seven matches en route to losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy.
Principality Stadium
Year Constructed — 1999
Estimated Cost — £121m/$151.6m
Capacity — 73,931
Grass/Artificial — Grass
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Year Constructed — 2019
Estimated Cost — £1bn/$1.25bn
Capacity — 62.850
Grass/Artificial — Grass
Etihad Stadium
Year Constructed — 2003
Estimated Cost — £164/$205m
Capacity — 53,000
Grass/Artificial — Grass
Bramley Moore Dock/Everton Stadium
Year Constructed — 2024, TBC
Estimated Cost — £500m/$626m (under review)
Capacity — 52,888, TBC
Grass/Artificial — Grass
St. James’ Park
Year Constructed — 1892
Estimated Cost — N/A
Capacity — 52.305
Grass/Artificial — Grass
St. James’ Park hosted three group games at Euro ’96.
Villa Park
Year Constructed — 1897
Estimated Cost — £23.5/$31.3m
Capacity — 42,657
Grass/Artificial — Grass
Villa Park was used during the 1996 World Cup with three group stage matches held at the famous ground in Birmingham. It joins Wembley and St. James’ Park in being only the third stadium to be involved at Euro ’96, and potentially Euro 2028, after hosting four matches at the former.
Hampden Park
Year Constructed — 1999 (major renovation)
Estimated Cost — N/A
Capacity — 51.866
Grass/Artificial — Grass
Hampden Park made it major tournament bow in the pan-European concept of Euro 2020 with Scotland playing two of their three group games at the Glasgow arena.
Aviva Stadium
Year Constructed — 2010
Estimated Cost — €410m/$453m
Capacity — 51.711
Grass/Artificial — Grass
The Aviva Stadium in Dublin was originally included on the list of venues for Euro 2020, but subsequently withdrew, due to the Irish Government’s Covid-19 guidelines on public gatherings.
Casement Park
Year Constructed — 2024, TBC
Estimated Cost — N/A
Capacity — 31,661, TBC
Grass/Artificial — Grass