Breaking: UK & Ireland Stand Victorious as Sole Contenders for Euro 2028 After Turkey's Shock Withdrawal!
UK & Ireland's joint bid remains the sole contender for hosting Euro 2028 as Turkey withdraws, leaving UEFA to decide the next two European Championships on October 10
The UK and Ireland are the remaining contenders for Euro 2028 after Turkey withdrew their bid. UEFA will announce the hosts for the 2028 and 2032 editions of the European Championships on October 10.
UEFA has confirmed that Turkey and Italy will be able to submit a joint bid for the 2032 event without any opposition. As a result, Turkey has decided to withdraw from the race for hosting the 2028 games. In a statement, UEFA announced that they have received the joint bid from the Italian and Turkish Football Associations and it will now be assessed and considered by the UEFA Executive Committee.
The FA of Turkiye has withdrawn its bid to host Euro 2028 after submitting a joint bid request. The approval of the Executive Committee, which will be given at the meeting in Nyon on 10 October, is still needed for both tournaments to be awarded. The decision will be made after careful consideration of the bid submissions presented during the meeting.
How can all host nations qualify for Euro 2028?
Image:
Wembley Stadium is a candidate to host the Euro 2028 final
UEFA officials of high rank are apprehensive about the proposal of permitting England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland to participate in Euro 2028, even if they are eliminated during the qualification process. We have been informed by sources at We News that UEFA is adhering to its regulations, which state that only a maximum of two host nations can receive direct entry into the tournament finals.
The outcome of the qualifying rounds and the implications for the countries that do not succeed are crucial aspects that will drive further deliberations.
It remains possible that the two "automatic" qualification places are held in reserve, and could be used by any of the five countries who fail to qualify in the usual way.
Image:
Italy beat England in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley
However, we have learned that UEFA is receiving backlash regarding the inclusion of countries in the finals who have failed to qualify. Many individuals within the organization feel uneasy about this concept. Furthermore, if three out of the five countries are unable to qualify, it would create a difficult situation in determining which two countries should advance to the tournament.
One possibility is that the best-performing two countries in qualifying would be granted a "wild card" for the finals.
Where will the games be played?
Image:
Scotland's Hampden Park is being considered as a potential venue for Euro 2028. The UK & Ireland submission has put forward a proposal which includes the use of 10 stadia. Notably, both Old Trafford and Croke Park in Dublin are absent from the bid. As expected, England, being the largest country and home to the renowned Premier League, boasts the highest number of stadiums, which are highly admired worldwide for their exceptional facilities.
Other stadiums representing England include those used by Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Everton, in addition to Wembley. For Wales, the 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium takes precedence over the Cardiff City Stadium. Scotland boasts Hampden Park, while Ireland boasts the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Meanwhile, the redevelopment of Casement Park, a stadium utilized by the Gaelic Athletic Association, remains a subject of concern in Northern Ireland due to funding problems and the absence of a functioning government executive at Stormont.
Noel Mooney, the CEO of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and a former UEFA executive, expressed his satisfaction with the collaborative effort in the bid. He stated that they have presented their shared desires and this is the bid that will be submitted. Their goal is to host group matches and a few additional matches thereafter. Mooney mentioned that they are hoping for four, five, or six matches, and he believes that other associations would also be pleased with this outcome.
Who would host the final?
Image:
Police form a cordon around Wembley Stadium after it was breached by ticketless supporters before the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy in July, 2021
Wembley, the largest stadium, encountered numerous issues while hosting the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy. Despite the fact that several other stadiums will accommodate over 60,000 fans by 2028, Mooney asserts that Wembley should remain the centerpiece for the culmination of Euro 2028.
"The UK leads the way in security and intelligence. The security challenges faced during the Euro 2020 final were unprecedented, considering their expertise in managing such events," he mentioned.
Image:
An independent report commissioned by the FA found that significant disorder took place outside Wembley on July 11
I perceive this as an isolated incident in this region, and with full awareness of the actions taken in response to the report, everything appears to be progressing positively. Security measures can never be overemphasized, and I have great confidence in the excellence of our upcoming security proposal.
The goal of any tournament is to maximize attendance at the matches. It revolves around providing access to this remarkable and extraordinary event. This principle guides our approach, and as such, Wembley can accommodate an impressive 90,000 individuals.
"Why would you deny tens of thousands of people going to a Euros final because of politics? I think we should try and get as many people as possible to the games."
