Daily Junction.mobi portalSports · June 16, 2026 · Tom Bennett · 8 min
The UK and Ireland will host the 2028 European Championship across 10 stadiums in five nations — here's where the matches will be played and what it means for British football.
In October 2023, UEFA confirmed that the United Kingdom and Ireland will host the 2028 European Championship, the first time the tournament will be held across five nations. It will be England's first major tournament since Euro 2020 (held in 2021 due to COVID-19), and the first time Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland have hosted a European Championship. The tournament will feature 24 teams playing 51 matches across 10 stadiums, with Wembley hosting the semi-finals and final. Here is everything you need to know about Euro 2028: the stadiums, the cities, the economic impact, and what it means for British and Irish football.
The UK and Ireland submitted a joint bid in 2022, initially competing against Turkey and Italy (who later withdrew to focus on a joint bid for Euro 2032). The five football associations — the Football Association (England), the Scottish FA, the Football Association of Wales, the Irish FA (Northern Ireland), and the Football Association of Ireland (Republic of Ireland) — worked together on the bid, supported by the UK and Irish governments.
In October 2023, UEFA's Executive Committee confirmed the UK and Ireland as hosts, after Turkey withdrew its bid to focus on Euro 2032 (which Turkey will co-host with Italy). The UK and Ireland bid was unopposed, making the decision a formality.
The bid emphasised the UK and Ireland's first-rate stadiums, strong transport links, and experience hosting major tournaments (including the 2012 Olympics, the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and Euro 2020, which saw Wembley host the semi-finals and final).
Euro 2028 will be held across 10 stadiums in nine cities:
Glasgow is the only city to host matches at two stadiums, reflecting its importance to Scottish football.
Euro 2028 will follow the same format as Euro 2020 and Euro 2024:
The tournament will run for four weeks in June and July 2028, with matches scheduled to avoid clashes with the Premier League, which will finish in May.
As hosts, all five football associations — England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland — will automatically qualify for Euro 2028. This is the first time all five have qualified for the same European Championship.
Automatic qualification is a significant advantage, particularly for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, who have historically struggled to qualify for major tournaments. It guarantees them a place at the finals and the opportunity to play in front of home crowds.
For England, automatic qualification is less significant, as they have qualified for every European Championship since 1996. But it does give Gareth Southgate's successor (Southgate's contract runs until 2024) two years to prepare without the pressure of a qualifying campaign.
The UK and Irish governments estimate that Euro 2028 will generate £2.6 billion for the UK economy and attract 2.7 million visitors (including 700,000 from overseas). The tournament will create thousands of jobs in hospitality, transport, and event management, and will provide a boost to tourism in the host cities.
The economic impact will be spread across the UK and Ireland, with London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Dublin expected to benefit the most. Smaller cities like Newcastle and Cardiff will also see significant investment in infrastructure and tourism.
The tournament will also provide a legacy for grassroots football, with UEFA and the host associations committing to invest in community facilities, coaching, and youth development.
The redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast has been the most controversial aspect of the bid. The stadium is owned by the GAA and is primarily used for Gaelic games, not football. The redevelopment has faced delays due to planning disputes, funding issues, and opposition from local residents.
In 2024, the UK government committed £62.5 million to the project, on top of funding from the Northern Ireland Executive and the GAA. The stadium is now expected to be completed by 2027, in time for Euro 2028. If it is not ready, UEFA has contingency plans to move matches to other venues.
Hosting a tournament across 10 stadiums in five nations will require significant investment in transport and infrastructure. The UK and Irish governments have committed to improving rail links, expanding airport capacity, and upgrading roads to ensure fans can travel between cities easily.
However, there are concerns about whether the transport network can cope with the influx of visitors, particularly in smaller cities like Newcastle and Cardiff.
UEFA has not yet announced ticket prices or allocation, but there are concerns that tickets will be expensive and difficult to obtain, particularly for the final at Wembley. UEFA typically allocates a large proportion of tickets to sponsors, corporate partners, and national associations, leaving fewer tickets for ordinary fans.
The UK and Irish governments have called on UEFA to ensure that tickets are affordable and accessible to local fans, but UEFA's track record on this issue is mixed.
Euro 2028 is a major opportunity for British and Irish football. It will:
For England, the tournament is a chance to win a major trophy on home soil, 62 years after the 1966 World Cup. For Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, it is a rare opportunity to compete at a major tournament in front of home crowds.
The qualifying campaign for Euro 2028 will begin in 2026, with 19 places available (24 teams minus the five hosts). The draw for the qualifying groups will take place in late 2025 or early 2026.
Tickets for Euro 2028 are expected to go on sale in late 2026 or early 2027, with prices and allocation to be announced by UEFA. Fans are advised to register with UEFA's ticketing portal to receive updates.
Euro 2028 will be held across 10 stadiums in the UK and Ireland, with Wembley hosting the semi-finals and final. The tournament will feature 24 teams playing 51 matches over four weeks in June and July 2028, with all five host nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland) automatically qualifying. The UK and Ireland won the hosting rights unopposed after Turkey withdrew, and the tournament is expected to generate £2.6 billion for the UK economy and attract 2.7 million visitors. The 10 stadiums include six in England (Wembley, Tottenham, Etihad, Everton, St James' Park, Villa Park), two in Scotland (Hampden, Ibrox), one in Wales (Principality Stadium), one in Northern Ireland (Casement Park), and one in the Republic of Ireland (Aviva Stadium). Challenges include the Casement Park redevelopment, transport infrastructure, and ticket allocation, but the tournament is a major opportunity for British and Irish football to showcase first-rate stadiums, inspire a new generation, and deliver a lasting legacy for grassroots football.
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