The UK and Ireland have formally submitted their initial bid to host the 2028 European Championship.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, the five football associations – of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – confirmed that an ‘expression of interest’ had been filed. It has also received the support of governments in the UK, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The submission comes on deadline day for interested parties to confirm their interest to UEFA to stage the tournament.
The UK and Ireland have submitted their initial bid to host the Euro 2028 championship
Sportsmail reported earlier this month that the the joint hosts were expected to be handed the tournament without facing competition from rival bids. However, both Turkey and Russia submitted their own applications ahead of Wednesday’s deadline.
Russia’s planned bid appeared to be a non-starter given the country’s suspension from international sport due to their invasion of Ukraine. However, they have persevered despite their current UEFA and FIFA-imposed sanctions.
The football associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have filed an ‘expression of interest’
The statement confirming the EOI pointed out the five-nation bid’s capability to host a 32-team finals, should UEFA opt to increase the number of teams from the current 24.
The intention to bid for Euro 2028 was announced on February 7, after a feasibility study concluded that targeting the continental finals carried greater certainty than a bid for the 2030 World Cup, which had been under consideration.
A joint statement from the five associations read: ‘With this unique partnership, we are taking the appropriate next steps and our ambition is to stage a successful UEFA Euro which will be a wonderful celebration of football for fans and teams.
‘We believe Euro 2028 would be one of the greatest sporting events ever held in the UK and Ireland.
‘This unprecedented partnership of five associations offers something special to European football, including the potential for an expanded tournament, and we are passionate about maximising the sustainability and legacy benefits for communities across the UK and Ireland.
A joint statement said the tournament would be ‘one of the greatest ever sporting events’ held in the UK and Ireland
‘Over the coming months, we will develop our proposals further, subject to the publication by UEFA of the full technical specification. This includes engaging in discussions with possible host cities and stadia to define the optimum tournament model and conducting a full costs and benefits analysis.
‘The UK and Ireland will offer an unrivalled tournament from a technical perspective – with modern, well-connected stadia and excellent infrastructure – that makes our partnership ideal to host Euro 2028.’
The formal bidding process will now drag on until September 2023.
The five football associations only announced their intention to bid for the tournament last month having ruled out a more ambitious campaign to land the 2030 World Cup.
The violence that marred last summer’s Euro 2020 final at Wembley has not been held against the FA’s involvement in the bid, with UEFA viewing it as a one-off event caused by England’s first major final appearance for 55 years and a mass release of frustration following the emergence from lockdown — as well as placing much of the blame at the door of the Metropolitan Police for their poor security operation.
Other than the final, the rest of the matches staged in England last year were viewed as a success.
UEFA view the violence that occured at last year’s Euro 2020 final as a ‘one-off event’
The one major issue to resolve is how to ensure matches can take place in Northern Ireland as, with a capacity of just 18,500, Windsor Park in Belfast does not meet UEFA’s tournament criteria for all stadiums to have a minimum capacity of 30,000.
Building a new ground in Northern Ireland is under consideration, but it is hoped that upgrading Windsor Park to 25,000 would be enough to satisfy UEFA.
The Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Principality in Cardiff and Glasgow’s Hampden Park would definitely be used, while Edinburgh’s Murrayfield and Croke Park in Dublin are also under consideration.
The final is certain to take place at Wembley but competition among English venues for other games will be fierce, particularly in London.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is sure to feature so either Arsenal’s Emirates or West Ham’s London Stadium could miss out.
Organisers will aim to achieve a geographical spread across the country leading to choices between Villa Park and the King Power Stadium in the Midlands, Old Trafford and the Etihad in Manchester, Anfield and Everton’s proposed new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock on Merseyside and Newcastle’s St James’ Park or Leeds’ Elland Road.
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