Britain and Ireland to host EURO 2028

UEFA has officially confirmed the venues that will host UEFA EURO 2028, with Great Britain and Ireland set to stage the European Championships for the first time in more than three decades.

The joint bid from England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales was approved by UEFA, with the tournament set to take place across 10 stadiums in five nations. Italy and Turkey were also confirmed as hosts of EURO 2032.

EURO 2028 will mark the return of a major international football tournament to the UK and Ireland for the first time since EURO 96, when England hosted the European Championships.

That tournament remains one of the most memorable in English football history, with the hosts reaching the semi-finals before suffering a penalty shoot-out defeat to Germany at Wembley. The famous “Football’s Coming Home” campaign captured the excitement around the tournament, despite England ultimately falling short of reaching the final.

More than 30 years later, the next generation of England players will have the opportunity to create their own history on home soil. The Three Lions came agonisingly close to winning their first European Championship title in 2021, losing to Italy on penalties in the final at Wembley, before reaching another final in 2024 and being beaten by Spain.

With Thomas Tuchel now leading England, EURO 2028 represents a huge opportunity for the national team to end a 62-year wait for a major men’s international trophy, with the last success coming at the 1966 World Cup.

EURO 2028 venues confirmed

Following the successful joint bid, UEFA confirmed the 10 stadiums that will host matches during the tournament:

• Wembley Stadium, London
• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
• Principality Stadium, Cardiff
• Etihad Stadium, Manchester
• Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
• St James’ Park, Newcastle
• Villa Park, Birmingham
• Hampden Park, Glasgow
• Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Several of the chosen venues already have a rich history of hosting major sporting events. Wembley, Hampden Park, the Principality Stadium and the Aviva Stadium have all staged memorable international fixtures over the years.

However, EURO 2028 will also bring firsts, with the Hill Dickinson Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium set to host UEFA European Championship matches for the first time. Tottenham’s home ground has already welcomed international sport, including NFL fixtures, but this will represent a landmark moment for football at the stadium.

Villa Park will also welcome a major international tournament for the first time since EURO 96. The historic Birmingham ground has not hosted an England international since 2005, when the Three Lions drew 0-0 with the Netherlands in a friendly.

FA chief welcomes EURO 2028 announcement

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham welcomed the confirmation of the successful bid, highlighting the importance of staging matches across all five host nations.

Speaking following the announcement, Bullingham said:

“It’s something we’ve been working really hard during the last few years. We’re looking forward to putting on a fantastic tournament. It’s a brilliant day for the country.

“The stadia are spread throughout the while of the country, so everyone has an event within touching distance. It is critical that the whole country feels they are involved, and we have that excitement throughout every part of the country.”

EURO 2028 is expected to attract supporters from across Europe, with millions of fans set to experience one of football’s biggest international tournaments across some of the UK and Ireland’s most famous stadiums.