UK and Republic of Ireland to Host Euro 2028 Unopposed as Turkey Focuses on Joint Bid for Euro 2032 with Italy
In an exciting turn of events, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have emerged as the unopposed bidders for the Euro 2028 tournament. This comes after Turkey made the decision to withdraw their bid for Euro 2028 and shift their focus towards a joint bid with Italy for Euro 2032.
The merger of Turkey’s bid with Italy was approved by Uefa, the governing body of football in Europe, after it was agreed upon in July. While Italy had initially bid for the hosting rights of the Euro 2032 competition, Turkey had expressed their interest in hosting both Euro 2028 and 2032.
The final approval for both bids is still pending and awaits a decision from Uefa’s executive committee, which is set to meet on Tuesday. This meeting will play a significant role in the decision-making process, as it will thoroughly assess the content and details of the bid submissions.
In a joint statement, the five national associations from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland expressed their enthusiasm for hosting Euro 2028. They stated that their proposal would be groundbreaking and would leave lasting legacies throughout the UK and Ireland.
While Turkey has never hosted a major international tournament, they did recently organize the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium in June. Italy, on the other hand, has a rich history of hosting football events, having hosted the European Championships in 1968 and 1980. Furthermore, Rome’s Stadio Olimpico was one of the venues for Euro 2020.
The UK and Republic of Ireland’s bid includes ten grounds, including iconic stadiums such as Hampden Park in Glasgow, Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Aviva Stadium in Dublin, and Wembley Stadium in London. Additionally, Belfast’s Casement Park and Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock, the former in the process of reconstruction and the latter still under construction, are also part of the bid.
It is worth mentioning that the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales have never before had the opportunity to host a major international tournament. In contrast, England has an illustrious football hosting history, having been one of the eleven countries to collectively host Euro 2020, as well as being the sole host of the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96.
The Euro 2020 final held at Wembley Stadium in London faced some disturbances and disorder, prompting a review into the events by authorities. The report highlighted the potential danger posed by ticketless, drunken and drugged-up thugs who stormed the stadium. This indicates the importance of ensuring the safety and security of fans and participants during such high-profile events.
As the bidding process moves forward and Euro 2028 and 2032 come closer, football fans around the world eagerly anticipate witnessing the sport’s greatest talents compete on the grand stage hosted by the UK, Republic of Ireland, Turkey, and Italy.
