UEFA announced on Tuesday that the 2028 European Championship will be hosted by Britain and Ireland, while Italy and Turkey will be the hosts for the 2032 edition of the tournament. With Turkey withdrawing from the race for Euro 2028 and accepting a joint Italy-Turkey bid for Euro 2032 last week, the hosts for both tournaments were essentially decided by the European governing body.
The withdrawal of Turkey from the 2028 race left England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales as the sole joint bidders for that tournament. However, final approval for both sets of bids was still pending from UEFA’s executive committee, which convened on Tuesday.
Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English Football Association (FA), emphasized that nothing was taken for granted. She stated that the efforts to organize the tournament had brought the five associations together, despite potential divisions. Hewitt expressed pride in this unity.
Euro 2028 will mark the largest major sporting event jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland. It will span across 10 stadiums, including Wembley Stadium in London, the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff, Hampden Park in Glasgow, and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf emphasized the significance of football in Scotland and its positive impact on communities. He highlighted the economic benefits from visiting fans and the strong legacy program that will promote a more inclusive and diverse game throughout the country.
The allocation of matches among the five hosts remains uncertain, although it is anticipated that Wembley, with a capacity of 90,000, may host the final and potentially the semi-finals.
Due to the multiple hosts, UEFA will reserve two “safety net” berths for host teams that do not qualify based on merit. If more than two host nations fail to qualify, only the top two will secure a place, meaning some host nations may not participate in the tournament.
Former Welsh international Gareth Bale, who retired in January, expressed his belief that the tournament would be a boost for football in Wales, emphasizing the importance of staying competitive and pushing forward.
The English FA announced that approximately three million tickets would be available for the tournament, surpassing the capacity of any previous European Championship. The matches will be held in stadiums with an average capacity of 58,000.
Italian Football Federation President Gabriele Gravina hailed the announcement as a historic day for Italy, highlighting the opportunity to organize such a significant football event after many years. He emphasized the potential to reignite interest and awareness in football among teams, clubs, and their fans, while also providing them with top-tier stadiums and infrastructure.
