LOWDOWN ON EURO 2028
The UK and Ireland have been announced as the hosts of Euro 2028, after Mail Sport revealed back in March last year that the home nations had won the rights. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN WILL IT TAKE PLACE?
The exact schedule is yet to be confirmed but the tournament will take place from June to July 2028.
WHERE WILL IT BE PLAYED?
At 10 stadiums across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (see left). The Principality Stadium in Wales is expected to host the opening match and Wembley will stage the semi-finals and final, as it did at Euro 2020. Question marks hang over two grounds with Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock yet to be completed while the Casement Park site in Belfast is currently derelict. Anfield and Old Trafford were not selected.
HOW MANY TEAMS?
UEFA last year decided to stick with its 24-nation tournament instead of expanding to 32 teams, despite the World Cup increasing from 32 countries to 48 from 2026.
WILL HOSTS QUALIFY AUTOMATICALLY?
Host nations will be expected to qualify, and England even rejected an automatic place — as they want to play competitive games in the build-up. But UEFA will reserve two ‘safety net’ places in case some host nations do not make it. If more than two fail to qualify, only the two with the best qualifying record will get a place, and the other host nations will miss out. This has happened before, when Romania and Azerbaijan did not qualify for Euro 2020, spread across 11 countries.
HOW MANY HOSTS HAVE WON THE EUROS?
Just three, in 16 editions — Spain 1964, Italy 1968 and France 1984. Rome hosted two matches at Euro 2020 when Italy lifted the trophy.
WHEN DOES QUALIFYING BEGIN?
It is yet to be confirmed, but likely early 2027.
WILL THERE BE MORE WEMBLEY TROUBLE?
The FA have given UEFA assurances we will not see a repeat of the disgraceful scenes at the Euro 2020 final where thousands of ticketless fans stormed Wembley. In June next year it will host the Champions League final, its first major UEFA event since that chaos.