UEFA have today announced that they have confirmed that United Kingdom and Ireland will be co-hosts of the UEFA European Championships in the summer of 2028.
The decision ratified by Europe’s governing body on Tuesday morning was a straightforward one as the UK & Ireland’s closest competitor, Turkey, had pulled out of the running last week to focus on a joint bid with Italy for UEFA Euro 2032.
England’s Wembley Stadium in London hosted three group stages matches as well as a Round of 16 tie and then both semi-finals and final of UEFA Euro 2020 in 2021. Hampden Park in Glasgow also hosted three group stages matches and a Round of 16 tie during the same tournament. The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales have never hosted matches at a major tournament.
The last time a tournament was exclusively held in Britain was UEFA Euro 1996 when England hosted; 30 years after hosting their only ever FIFA World Cup in 1966.
There are due to be ten host stadiums from nine host cities used at the tournament with six stadiums in five cities in England, as well as one venue apiece in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, which holds 73,952 people, is expected to host the opening match of the tournament, with Wembley Stadium, having a capacity of 90,652, to be where the final is staged.
London will also be used with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,322), as well as the Etihad Stadium in Manchester (61,000), Villa Park in Birmingham (52,190), St James’ Park in Newcastle (52,305) and the Everton’s new ground on the Bramley-Moore Docks site which is still currently under construction but due to have a capacity of 52,679.
In addition to Cardiff, Scotland will host games at the aforementioned Hampden Park in Glasgow (52,032) with the Aviva Stadium (51,711) in Dublin being used, too. Casement Park in Belfast, due to hold 34,500, is being redeveloped to host matches in Northern Ireland.