UK & Ireland Set To Host Euro 2028
The UK and Ireland are set to be named as joint hosts of Euro 2028 with no rival bid likely to come forward before the 23rd March deadline, according to a report by The Times.
If there are no further entries, UEFA will make a formal decision to appoint Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on 7th April. It will also set a deadline of the end of the year to receive all the necessary government guarantees. If those are not received in time it will re-open the bidding for the tournament.
Potential rivals have fallen away after the five nations confirmed interest enthusiastically supported by the tournament organisers, UEFA.
Despite suggestions that the bid may have been damaged by the disorder that marred last July’s Euro 2020 final at Wembley, the the five-nation bid is now the firm favourite.
Italy is expected to bid for Euro 2032 instead, and a potential Russian bid has been made impossible following the invasion of Ukraine.
Wembley would host the European Championships final, and matches would also be held in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. The successful bid would be vindication of the decision confirmed last month to go for the Euros instead of launching a bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament offers UEFA an opportunity to recoup money lost to the pandemic, especially with the extra games. It is widely expected that the 2028 tournament will be the first to feature 32 teams rather than the current 24.
The five nations would not automatically qualify for the tournament because UEFA grants that privilege only when a maximum of two countries are chosen as hosts.
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