The UK and Ireland will bid unopposed to host soccer’s UEFA European Championship in 2028 after Turkey officially withdrew to focus on a joint bid for the following edition.
Continental governing body UEFA today announced it has accepted Italy and Turkey’s joint bid to stage the flagship men's national team tournament in 2032, leaving the UK and Ireland bid – submitted by the soccer associations of England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales – as the only one on the table for 2028.
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In a statement, UEFA said: “The UEFA administration has today written to both associations [Italy and Turkey] to confirm that their joint bid has been duly received and will go forward for assessment and consideration by the UEFA executive committee.
“As indicated by the FA of Türkiye with its submission of the request for a joint bid, their bid to stage UEFA Euro 2028 is consequently withdrawn.”
In April, the Turkish Football Federation submitted a bid dossier to stage the Euros in either Euro 2028 or 2032, while the Italian Football Federation placed a bid for Euro 2032.
The hosts of the next two editions of the competition will be confirmed on October 10 following a UEFA executive committee meeting.
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By GlobalDataThe governing body said: “The presentations at that meeting will be an important part of the process which will take due consideration of the content of the bid submissions before reaching a decision.”
UEFA will make decisions on venues and match schedules at a later stage.
The UK and Ireland's five-nation bid has received support from the respective governments of each country.
It is understood that UEFA has abandoned plans to expand the Euros to 32 teams in 2028 due to concerns raised by broadcasters.
The organization had planned to increase the number of teams in the tournament again but broadcasters around Europe believe it would diminish the commercial value of the qualifiers.
UEFA previously increased the Euros in size from 16 to 24 teams in 2016. A 24-team format would mean only 10 stadiums will need to be used for the tournament.
The UK and Ireland shortlisted 10 stadiums in April, with six in England, and one in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
The host venues will be Villa Park (Birmingham), Everton Stadium (Liverpool), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley (London), Etihad Stadium (Manchester), St James' Park (Newcastle), Aviva Stadium (Dublin), Casement Park Stadium (Belfast), Hampden Park (Glasgow), and the Principality Stadium (Cardiff).
A major international soccer tournament has not been staged in the UK in its entirety since 1996 when England hosted the Euros. England previously failed with a bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
However, the country hosted the majority of Euro 2020, with seven matches, including both semi-finals and the final, held at Wembley.
Scotland’s Hampden Park hosted four games at Euro 2020, while the Republic of Ireland’s Aviva Stadium was due to hold some group-stage games but pulled out of hosting duties due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The next edition of the men's Euros in 2024 will be held in Germany.
