Euro 2028 bid: What are the potential venues in Ireland and the UK?

The Aviva Stadium is nailed on to host fixtures while Casement Park is a wildcard

The Aviva Stadium would host fixtures at Euro 2028 if the bid is successful. Photograph: Inpho
The Aviva Stadium would host fixtures at Euro 2028 if the bid is successful. Photograph: Inpho

Nailed-on

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Currently controlled by the IRFU and the FAI via the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (LRSDC), a joint venture with a 60-year lease on the stadium that on expiry will return exclusive ownership to the IRFU, the D4 setting was denied the chance to host Euro 2020 matches due to the Irish Government’s covid restrictions.

Capacity: 51,700

Croke Park, Dublin

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The proposed final venue for the IRFU’s failed World Cup 2023 bid. The Dineen/Hill 16 terrace required temporary seating when the Republic of Ireland played there between 2007 and 2009, during to the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, which reduced capacity by over 5,000.

Capacity: 76,000

Wembley could host the Euro 2028 semi-finals and final. Photograph: Tommy Dickson/Inpho
Wembley could host the Euro 2028 semi-finals and final. Photograph: Tommy Dickson/Inpho

Wembley Stadium

“It makes sense that Wembley would be the firm favourite for finals, whether that is semi-finals as well,” said Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell. “England obviously will have more stadiums, they are a bigger country, that makes sense.”

Capacity: 87,000

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Hosted four matches at Euro 2020, two of which Scotland lost, with the ground etched into modern soccer history by Zinedine Zidane’s match winning volley for Real Madrid in the 2002 Champions League final.

Capacity: 51,866

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Formerly the Millennium Stadium, overshadowing the old Cardiff Arms Park, in 2020 it became a field hospital to help the NHS cope with hospital overflows caused by the pandemic. The closed roof creates one the best atmosphere in world sport.

Capacity: 73,931

Could Casement Park be a wildcard venue for the 2028 Euros? Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Could Casement Park be a wildcard venue for the 2028 Euros? Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

The contenders

Casement Park, Belfast

Named after Sir Roger Casement, the Dublin born British diplomat who was hanged for high treason after his involvement in the Easter Rising, the GAA ground has been derelict since 2013. Bizarrely, the IRFU included Casement in its failed bid to host the 2023 World Cup along with semi-finals at the partly-terraced Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Capacity: 34,578*

Old Trafford, Manchester
Capacity:
74,140

Old Trafford hosted fixtures at Euro 1996. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty
Old Trafford hosted fixtures at Euro 1996. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty

City of Manchester Stadium
Capacity:
53,000

Anfield, Liverpool
Capacity:
53,394

St James' Park, Newcastle
Capacity:
52,305

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Capacity:
62,850

London Stadium
Capacity:
66,000

Emirates Stadium, London
Capacity:
60,260

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent