Ireland & UK confirmed to host UEFA EURO 2028 finals tournament

Following a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, today, Ireland and the UK, as a unique and pioneering five-Association partnership, have been confirmed as hosts of the UEFA EURO 2028 Finals Tournament. 

The ExCo decision was formally taken after a presentation by the Ireland and UK Football Association executives and Welsh football star, Gareth Bale. Shamrock Rovers player and Ireland underage international Ade Solanke represented Ireland in Nyon as one of six youth football ambassadors who play an active role supporting the development and diversity of the game in their local communities. 

The third biggest sporting event in the world, UEFA EURO 2028 Ireland & UK will be the largest major sporting event the nations have ever jointly staged – presenting an exciting summer of football to inspire the next generations.

The UEFA EURO 2028 bid was successful thanks to its clear and compelling vision to help domestic and European football grow a more diverse and inclusive game, connect with new audiences and inspire the next generation of players, fans and volunteers. Ireland and the UK expressed this vision as ‘Football for all. Football for good. Football for the future’.

Ireland and the UK were also awarded the Tournament based on the nations’ collective wealth of operational experience and world-class technical facilities – with a long track-record of staging successful major sporting events across all host cities. 

The successful UEFA EURO 2028 bid by Ireland & the UK commits to: 

• Approximately three million tickets available – more than any previous UEFA EURO finals tournament 
• Average stadia capacity of 58,000 so more fans than ever before can attend matches 
• Creating safe, family-friendly and fun experiences with an estimated 2.5 million fans expected to take part in UEFA Festivals across Ireland and the UK 

The bid has the full backing of the respective Ireland and UK Governments who see this as a significant opportunity to generate meaningful sporting, economic, environmental and social benefits. The Government partners have agreed to a shared €51 million legacy fund which will be invested to develop football and create additional legacies across our five Associations. 

The FAI and the Government of Ireland are committed to a €6.2m Irish legacy fund which will be earmarked for investment across all facets of our sport. This fund is in addition to other revenue tournament-related revenue streams for the FAI which will be directed back into the development of the game in Ireland.  

The Ireland and UK partnership thanks UEFA for its confidence to award UEFA EURO 2028 to the five-Association partnership and congratulates Italy and Turkey on their appointment for UEFA EURO 2032.