Wembley ‘to host extra Euro 2028 match’ after Northern Ireland’s hopes of being co-hosts were ended following UK Government’s refusal to fund Casement Park redevelopment

Wembley Stadium will reportedly host an extra Euro 2028 match after Northern Ireland’s hopes of being co-hosts were ended. 

The UK Government will not fund the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast, due to ‘a significant risk that it would not be built in time’.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced the decision in a joint letter to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons on Friday evening. 

The four Euro 2028 matches that had been scheduled for Belfast will now be split among other host cities. 

A UEFA source told the Times that the matches are expected to be moved to Wembley, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Hampden Park in Glasgow and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

The UK Government announced it will not fund the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast

Wembley Stadium, home of the England national team, is already set to host both semi-finals as well as the showpiece final. 

The same outlet claims that Uefa know that it will make more financial gains from ticket and hospitality sales at the London venue compared to moving it to Liverpool or Manchester. 

The joint letter said the risk of the of the Casement Park refurbishments not being completed in time was partly due to a lack of building progress made between now and when the Euro 2028 bid was awarded jointly to the UK and Ireland.

The ministers said the cost of building Casement Park had risen ‘dramatically’ since 2023 – from £180 million to £400 million.

‘The estimated build costs have risen dramatically, from £180m when the Euro 2028 bid was awarded in October 2023 to potentially over £400m, and there is a significant risk that it would not be built in time for the tournament,’ the joint letter said.

‘We have therefore, regrettably, decided that it is not appropriate for the UK Government to provide funding to seek to build Casement Park in time to host matches at Euro 2028.

‘This has been a very difficult decision to make, given our belief in the Euro 2028 partnership, but it is the only way forward in the circumstances.’

The ministers said the cost of building Casement Park had risen ‘dramatically’ since 2023

England and other host nations will have to play qualifiers to make Euro 2028, with Northern Ireland’s now facing a tough road to make the tournament if they are no longer considered co-hosts. 

UEFA will only allow a maximum of two automatic spots which will be reserved for any host nation that fails to qualify. 

The two best will take the two spots should three host nations fail to make it through the qualifiers.