Football will be coming to the home nations, and the Republic of Ireland, after it was confirmed that a joint bid to host the men’s European Championship in 2028 would proceed unopposed.
Uefa said on Wednesday that Turkey, who had expressed an interest in hosting the tournament, has now withdrawn its bid, leaving a clear run for the UK and Ireland offer.
The news had been expected, with the UK and Ireland the favourite for 2028 ever since the English Football Association signalled it would not bid to host the men’s Fifa World Cup in 2030.
Uefa had wanted a mature football market to host the 2028 tournament, as it seeks to recoup revenues lost from the Covid-disrupted tournament of 2021.
Turkey’s decision to express interest in 2028 and 2032 had complicated matters, but it has chosen to concentrate on a joint bid with Italy to host the 2032 edition.
With Euro 2028 to be contested by 24 teams, 10 venues across the five host countries have been proposed to Uefa.
Six of these venues, including Villa Park, St James’ Park and Everton’s as yet incomplete Bramley Moore Dock stadium, will be in England.
Hampden Park in Glasgow, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and Casement Park in Belfast complete the list.
How many countries will go through the standard qualifying process for the tournament?
Uefa would like England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales to go through the standard qualifying process for the tournament.
Customarily qualifying places are reserved for host nations, with Poland and Ukraine guaranteed spots before they hosted the men’s Euros in 2012.
Uefa is understood to be unwilling to extend the guaranteed places to five, which leaves the possibility of host nations missing out on their own tournament.
Uefa is expected to draft regulations that will minimise this risk before qualification for the tournament begins in 2026.
