IN A HISTORIC move, the UK and Ireland have submitted their joint bid to host UEFA EURO 2028. The bid includes a detailed plan showcasing how the nations are working together to create a world-class football festival for Europe and take the tournament to new heights.
The bid proposes 10 state-of-the-art stadia across five partner associations, with a combined capacity of over 580,000 seats. The stadiums include world-famous venues such as Wembley Stadium, National Stadium of Wales, and Hampden Park, as well as newer state-of-the-art facilities like the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Everton Stadium.
With almost three million tournament tickets available, this UEFA EURO promises to be the biggest and most commercially successful ever. The average stadium capacity of 58,000 ensures that more fans than ever before will be able to attend matches. Matches will be hosted around the nations and regions to reach as many communities as possible.
Sustainability and good governance are top priorities for the UK and Ireland’s bid. More than 80% of ticket holders will be able to travel to matches by public transport thanks to a compact and connected transport plan. The proposed match schedule is designed to reduce emissions, and the bid adheres to UEFA’s major event human rights principles to ensure an inclusive, discrimination-free, and equal work environment for colleagues and volunteers.
The UK and Ireland have a proud reputation as world-leading event destinations that have successfully staged some of the biggest global sporting tournaments. This bid is backed by strong government support, including the recent record-breaking UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.
The bid’s vision, “Football for all, Football for good. Football for the future,” promises to help the associations and UEFA grow a more diverse and inclusive game as well as connect with new audiences and the next generation of fans and volunteers.
To mark the bid submission moment, the captains of the UK and Ireland men’s national football teams showed their support. Harry Kane, Séamus Coleman, Steven Davis, Andy Robertson, and Aaron Ramsey all expressed their enthusiasm for the bid.
The UK and Ireland’s government partners are fully committed to hosting UEFA EURO 2028. They have signed the relevant tournament guarantees and will ensure the event is fully supported. With their once-in-a-generation legacy investment, the UK and Ireland aim to transform football development and generate meaningful economic, environmental, and social benefits.
The bid partners have already invested or committed more than £500 million to improve and upgrade grassroots facilities, with the aim of expanding investment programs as UEFA EURO 2028 approaches. A further £45 million legacy fund will be invested to develop football and create additional legacies. The tournament will create a positive long-term community impact through volunteering, tourism, and other training opportunities that provide people with skills for life.
The UK and Ireland look forward to continuing their engagement with UEFA and listening and learning from the European football family to enhance their bid plans. This UEFA EURO 2028 promises to be an unforgettable event that celebrates the spirit of football and creates a lasting legacy for the UK, Ireland, and Europe.
