The UK and Ireland are set to be confirmed as co-hosts of Euro 2028 next week after UEFA ratified a joint bid from Italy and Turkey to stage the 2032 edition of the national team tournament.
Turkey had been in contention to host Euro 2028, but in July the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) revised their bids by submitting a joint proposal for the 2032 tournament.
The move left the UK and Ireland in the box seat to stage Euro 2028, and UEFA has today (Wednesday) written to the Turkish and Italian federations to confirm that their joint bid for 2032 has been duly received and will go forward for assessment and consideration by the UEFA Executive Committee.
Turkey had been the only country to rival the UK and Ireland’s bid for Euro 2028, but this has now officially been withdrawn to focus on the 2032 tournament. UEFA is set to announce the hosts of Euro 2028 and Euro 2032 at its Executive Committee meeting in Nyon on October 10.
UEFA initiated its bidding process for the 2028 and 2032 European Championships back in 2021. In March 2022, the UK and Ireland’s pathway to co-hosting Euro 2028 was complicated with both Russia and Turkey announcing that they would bid for the tournament, but UEFA subsequently terminated Russia’s bid as part of further sanctions issued against the country for its invasion of Ukraine.
The FIGC and TFF opted to submit a joint bid for Euro 2032 after studying previous tournaments that have been co-hosted by more than one country, including Euro 2020, Euro 2012, Euro 2008 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The joint UK and Ireland bid for Euro 2028 proposes 10 venues across nine cities: Wembley Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Principality Stadium, Etihad Stadium, Everton Stadium, St James’ Park, Villa Park, Hampden Park, Aviva Stadium and Casement Park.
Old Trafford, London Stadium, Stadium of Light and Croke Park were omitted from the 14-venue long-list that was unveiled last November. Anfield was not included as its pitch dimensions do not meet UEFA requirements.
Euro 2024 will take place in Germany. Tickets for the tournament went on sale yesterday (Tuesday).
