UEFA Euro 2028

[JR89]

The FAI are not gonna get the IFAs games. PUC wasn't even up to standard for the RWC I believe so what makes some think it's a viable option for UEFA. UEFA probably have no issues with Croker since even without the terrace you've still got 60K seats I believe. If Casement can't be used those games are going nowhere but back to England.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'd suspect Sunderland would get the nod if it came to it. They wouldn't give London (West Ham) a third host stadium surely, and Old Trafford is getting a lot of criticism recently for being rundown.

[Eirambler]

Surely in this instance it's only fair for the residents of the north that those games should be relocated to the originally shortlisted stadium that's most easily accessible to residents of that area. That stadium of course is Croke Park. That should supersede any concerns over having a second stadium in Dublin. Particularly if the alternative was somewhere like Sunderland, where the stadium is only 12 miles from St James Park in Newcastle.

[elatedscum]

Why on earth were both Lansdowne and Croker both on the shortlist if they couldn't both host? It just doesn't make any sense

[ifk101]

Nothing makes sense. It’s all a charade. Casement is being built to GAA specifications. Even if its built in time, it would need an immediate overhaul to host games. Basically its being built to where PuC currently is.

[Eirambler]

The plan was to build it to UEFA specs first, then change it to GAA spec (including replacing a lot of seating with terracing).

Not sure it will ever get done now, and certainly not to the standards of international sports organisations if it does go ahead.

[Eirambler]

Why on earth were both Lansdowne and Croker both on the shortlist if they couldn't both host? It just doesn't make any sense

I think when the original list was drafted they were still looking at a 32 team Euros. Which would have required multiple stadiums in some cities. However the point still stands, if they were potentially going to be OK with it for a 32 team Euros there shouldn't be any reason why they can't accept it now to ensure the games are kept in Ireland.

[ifk101]

The plan was to build it to UEFA specs first, then change it to GAA spec (including replacing a lot of seating with terracing).

That was/ is a "suggestion" and not included in the actual planning application for the stadium? Possibly could mean a redraw and a new planning application which would add an extra lump on top of an already excessive cost.

[elatedscum]

I think when the original list was drafted they were still looking at a 32 team Euros. Which would have required multiple stadiums in some cities. However the point still stands, if they were potentially going to be OK with it for a 32 team Euros there shouldn't be any reason why they can't accept it now to ensure the games are kept in Ireland.

i do think either a 16 or 32 team euros would be far better. this 24 team point, where only 8 teams are knocked out is pretty stupid.

same with the world cup and it's 40 team plans with 48 teams, initially 16 groups of 3 (where 2 teams qualify), now 12 groups of 4, with 8 3rd place teams going through... just go 32 or 64 teams...

[pineapple stu]

A 32 team Euros seems a bit excessive though, doesn't it?

I'm sure it'll happen at some stage though, plus a 64-team World Cup. Money talks after all...

[SkStu]

32 team knock out style :) every game is a final!

[elatedscum]

A 32 team Euros seems a bit excessive though, doesn't it?

I'm sure it'll happen at some stage though, plus a 64-team World Cup. Money talks after all...

To a certain extent yeah, I'd also be happy with the 16 teams. I just think 24 is a terrible middle point, which eliminates a lot of the entertainment from the group stages, because almost everyone progresses, so the majority of games are relatively low stakes, unless you're right on the cusp of being either a good or bad third place team. There's so little jeopardy, you win your first game and you're basically through...

Like a 32 team euros is basically like having our current 24 teams + Wales, Bosnia, Iceland, Norway, Ireland, Montenegro, Sweden and Greece. It's not great, but it's not like a huge drop in quality to the current teams outside the top 8 teams, who are very much in a league of their own... And the format improves much much more... You see it in the world cup, thinking of Germany getting knocked out in a group with Mexico, South Korea and Sweden - the dynamics of 2/4 getting out a group causes far more upsets than 2.5/4

[nigel-harps1954]

53 teams competing in qualifying for 32 team championships would be nonsense. 16 teams was the perfect number for Euros.

[seanfhear]

53 teams competing in qualifying for 32 team championships would be nonsense. 16 teams was the perfect number for Euros.
You'd be nearly as well off making it a 64 team tournament after qualifying (wink)

[Diggs246]

Can we nominate a stadium/city that wasn't in the original bid?

(I don't see us getting a second ground out of it though)

I've no idea. Someone will have to get an extra stadium. They might be more comfortable with wales or Scotland as their stadia are under the SFA and the WFA. Not the GAA

[JR89]

I've no idea. Someone will have to get an extra stadium. They might be more comfortable with wales or Scotland as their stadia are under the SFA and the WFA. Not the GAA

The only football stadiums in Wales or Scotland that have the capacity to host matches are already based in cities that are being used. So technically they'll have to deal with the SRU not SFA or WFA as Murrayfield would be the most likely stadium they'd use.

All a bit moot anyway as doubt they'll go anywhere but another English stadium. Could look for somewhere like Leeds, Leicester, Sunderland, or Southampton

[Crosby87]

I see they are asking the Brits to get stoned and not drunk

https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3516924/german-police-have-warned-english-fans-not-to-do-the-10-german-bombers-world-war-ii-chant-during-this-summers-european-championship

[seanfhear]

I see they are asking the Brits to get stoned and not drunk

https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3516924/german-police-have-warned-english-fans-not-to-do-the-10-german-bombers-world-war-ii-chant-during-this-summers-european-championship
The Brits will get stoned and drunk ~ So, this will be an interesting experiment !

[Crosby87]

Germany gonna be a tough out. What a beautiful goal....

[EalingGreen]

Ita difficult to believe there is no other suitable stadium in the north.Eh? Nothing remotely close.


If we get allocated other one. I think it should be outside of Dublin if possible. Cork would be ideal if the use of the GAA stadium is a runnerYou won't - read my post #246.

[EalingGreen]

I've no idea. Someone will have to get an extra stadium. They might be more comfortable with wales or Scotland as their stadia are under the SFA and the WFA. Not the GAAUEFA simply does not permit two stadia in one city - not even London, a city which could damned nearly host the whole tournament on its own. (Wembley for the Final etc is an exception).
Which is why Dublin is out i.e. it could only ever be Aviva or Croke, and since the Aviva is 50% football, that will be it. (There is no other stadium in ROI which comes close to complying)
Wales has one stadium which meets the criteria (Principality) and another which might, Cardiff City Stadium (unsure?), but both are in the same city, so that's a no/no.
Scotland conceivably might do it if you included Murrayfield, except that it probably doesn't meet UEFA requirements, which are about much more than mere capacity, as well as being a rugby stadium, and why would UEFA or the SFA want to benefit a rival sport?
Which, assuming Casement doesn't make it (increasingly likely imo), leaves England. My guess is Sunderland/SoL, though if Nottingham Forest could redevelop The City Ground in time for the final decision (odds-against, I'd say), they might be in the running. Or as 'JR89' says, Leeds or Soton might step up. (Leicester City probably aren't in the running since the city doesn't have its own international airport, what with East Midlands being closer to Derby or Nottingham)

[Eirambler]

It looks like they're just going to spread the games around the existing stadiums, including one additional game in Dublin. The next question is what happens to the north in terms of qualification. If they're no longer hosting games can they justify continuing to be eligible for the two host qualification places that are being made available to host nations that don't qualify automatically? Seems a stretch to justify to be honest, they'll probably host a few training camps, but that's not the same as being a tournament host.

Would mean (assuming England will definitely qualify automatically) that it's two places between Ireland, Scotland and Wales and if any of the three qualify by themselves then all three would get automatic qualification. If the north drop out there's also a potential argument that Ireland should just get an automatic place from the start to ensure there is at least one Irish team involved in the tournament. However, the association is so all over the place at the moment that it's hard to see them having enough about them to successfully make the case for it.

[Bungle]

It looks like they're just going to spread the games around the existing stadiums, including one additional game in Dublin. The next question is what happens to the north in terms of qualification. If they're no longer hosting games can they justify continuing to be eligible for the two host qualification places that are being made available to host nations that don't qualify automatically? Seems a stretch to justify to be honest, they'll probably host a few training camps, but that's not the same as being a tournament host.

Would mean (assuming England will definitely qualify automatically) that it's two places between Ireland, Scotland and Wales and if any of the three qualify by themselves then all three would get automatic qualification. If the north drop out there's also a potential argument that Ireland should just get an automatic place from the start to ensure there is at least one Irish team involved in the tournament. However, the association is so all over the place at the moment that it's hard to see them having enough about them to successfully make the case for it.

Agree with everything you said. Only thing would be the last bit. Scotland and Wales are part of Britain, but separate football associations. The bid needed all five to pull together to garner as much support. England could easily have gone alone, but they knew the others would pull it over the line.

Regarding Northern Ireland, it's hard to see how they can get such favoritism regarding slots, but the IFA should be looking to get huge investment for grassroots and stadia etc. Maybe, they give them some advantage in qualifying like a guaranteed play off. It seems like that issue could get messy. The IFA could derail it - being honest if I was them I'd be demanding as anything because they have the other four by the short and curlies.

[EalingGreen]

It looks like they're just going to spread the games around the existing stadiums, including one additional game in Dublin.
Have you seen something which indicates this?

For I think it a logistical impossibility. For one thing, it would mean one set of four teams having to move around and play their Group/last 16 games in different venues and away from their base. More to the point, fans of those teams, who for the likes of Germany or the Dutch etc could number in 10's of thousands, would be forced to move around all over the place, where they might come up against large numbers of fans from the resident teams. Local police and security will not want this extra headache, plus transport companies (flights, trains, airports, stations etc) would have an extra burden over and above what they already have to deal with.
Instead it would be so much easier just to pick a new stadium/city to replace Belfast - England has plenty more which could host the tournament at very short notice.


The next question is what happens to the north in terms of qualification. If they're no longer hosting games can they justify continuing to be eligible for the two host qualification places that are being made available to host nations that don't qualify automatically? Seems a stretch to justify to be honest, they'll probably host a few training camps, but that's not the same as being a tournament host.

Would mean (assuming England will definitely qualify automatically) that it's two places between Ireland, Scotland and Wales and if any of the three qualify by themselves then all three would get automatic qualification. If the north drop out there's also a potential argument that Ireland should just get an automatic place from the start to ensure there is at least one Irish team involved in the tournament.Unless something changes, this joint bid will only be awarded two guaranteed places:
"In order to ensure compatibility with the competition’s sporting and commercial format, the automatic qualification of the host team(s) shall be guaranteed only for a single host or a maximum of two joint host associations, as always implemented in the past."
https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/026e-1375f6486ffc-184f03226503-1000/

As for hosting training camps etc, I don't think UEFA actually allocates these, it's up to the individual qualifiers to select their own. On which point I don't think NI/Belfast has anything esp suitable just now. My own hope would be that assuming NI isn't hosting a Group, the IFA could squeeze Westminster to fund a National Training Centre instead as our tournament "legacy", maybe with accommodation. This could be used by at least one of the teams playing in Dublin. Indeed with Belfast having two airports and only being a v.short flight from L'pool, Manchester, Glasgow etc, it might appeal to other teams as well?

One will be England and my guess is that for political reasons (both small and big "p"), the other will be ROI. However, they could conceivably contrive something like awarding the second (even a third?) automatic place on some new criterion, such as eg the highest UEFA Ranking in the two years leading up to the tournament; or performances in the prior Nations League games; or even qualification for WC2026?



However, the [FAI] is so all over the place at the moment that it's hard to see them having enough about them to successfully make the case for it.The fact that the AVIVA was awarded the Europa League Final should stand to them, though I think I read that some of the facilities/amenities were barely up to the palatial standards which UEFA's bigwigs normally expect eg Media and Catering? Though I woulod expect the FAI to use that as an excuse to wring some more money from the Dublin government.

P.S. Why do you go to the trouble of typing out "the north" and "Ireland"? "NI" and "ROI" is correct, unmistakeable and quicker.

[Diggs246]

Have you seen something which indicates this?

For I think it a logistical impossibility. For one thing, it would mean one set of four teams having to move around and play their Group/last 16 games in different venues and away from their base. More to the point, fans of those teams, who for the likes of Germany or the Dutch etc could number in 10's of thousands, would be forced to move around all over the place, where they might come up against large numbers of fans from the resident teams. Local police and security will not want this extra headache, plus transport companies (flights, trains, airports, stations etc) would have an extra burden over and above what they already have to deal with.
Instead it would be so much easier just to pick a new stadium/city to replace Belfast - England has plenty more which could host the tournament at very short notice.

Unless something changes, this joint bid will only be awarded two guaranteed places:
"In order to ensure compatibility with the competition’s sporting and commercial format, the automatic qualification of the host team(s) shall be guaranteed only for a single host or a maximum of two joint host associations, as always implemented in the past."
https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/026e-1375f6486ffc-184f03226503-1000/

As for hosting training camps etc, I don't think UEFA actually allocates these, it's up to the individual qualifiers to select their own. On which point I don't think NI/Belfast has anything esp suitable just now. My own hope would be that assuming NI isn't hosting a Group, the IFA could squeeze Westminster to fund a National Training Centre instead as our tournament "legacy", maybe with accommodation. This could be used by at least one of the teams playing in Dublin. Indeed with Belfast having two airports and only being a v.short flight from L'pool, Manchester, Glasgow etc, it might appeal to other teams as well?

One will be England and my guess is that for political reasons (both small and big "p"), the other will be ROI. However, they could conceivably contrive something like awarding the second (even a third?) automatic place on some new criterion, such as eg the highest UEFA Ranking in the two years leading up to the tournament; or performances in the prior Nations League games; or even qualification for WC2026?


The fact that the AVIVA was awarded the Europa League Final should stand to them, though I think I read that some of the facilities/amenities were barely up to the palatial standards which UEFA's bigwigs normally expect eg Media and Catering? Though I woulod expect the FAI to use that as an excuse to wring some more money from the Dublin government.

P.S. Why do you go to the trouble of typing out "the north" and "Ireland"? "NI" and "ROI" is correct, unmistakeable and quicker.

Would it be fair to say you don't want Ireland the republic of..
To get a 2nd stadium? Why, I mean are we that awful!!

It does appear that if we had a GAA stadium ready to roll with seating and specifications sorted, you would still would prefer Leicester or stoke or Southhampton to get it.

We are actually quite good hosts.

Also we can accommodate 1 million etc people over St Patricks weekend. So it's not like the fans will be homeless

[Eirambler]

The report regarding spreading the games around existing stadiums is this one from the Times (mods: feel free to delete the link if not OK to use the archive site):

https://archive.ph/vA2bB

As for my naming of the teams, that's just what I call them, both verbally and written. The Ireland team to me represents the whole island, north and south, as evidenced by players whose origins are from right across the island who play in it. So I call it Ireland. Whereas the NI team, as per your preferred name, only represents the north, so I call it the north. Just personal preference really.

[EalingGreen]

Only thing would be the last bit. Scotland and Wales are part of Britain, but separate football associations. The bid needed all five to pull together to garner as much support. England could easily have gone alone, but they knew the others would pull it over the line. NI are also part of "Britain" (more accurately the UK) and are seen as such by UEFA and FIFA, rather than being linked with ROI/FAI. (And I say that not to make any political point, merely to recognise the actual situation see eg https://www.theifab.com/organisation/, or page 4 of https://www.icsspe.org/system/files/FIFA%20Statutes.pdf)


Regarding Northern Ireland, it's hard to see how they can get such favoritism regarding slots, but the IFA should be looking to get huge investment for grassroots and stadia etc. Maybe, they give them some advantage in qualifying like a guaranteed play off. It seems like that issue could get messy.NI deserve no "favouritism" over qualification or anything else, at least any more than Scot/Wales/ROI, and esp if they provide no stadium. Agree about the IFA using it to garner investment in football generally, esp when Westminster and Dublin will likely be pouring money into the others.


The IFA could derail it - being honest if I was them I'd be demanding as anything because they have the other four by the short and curlies.Couldn't disagree more i.e. the IFA have zero leverage. Why they can't even muster much support at local level, seeing as Sinn Fein are pretty hostile to "soccer", at least in any Northern Ireland context, while the DUP have never actually been very supportive of the game either (maybe something about permitting games on Sundays?).

Fact is, once the vote was taken to award the tournament to the five Associations, that was the end of any real influence the IFA was ever likely to have.

[pineapple stu]

As for my naming of the teams, that's just what I call them, both verbally and written. The Ireland team to me represents the whole island, north and south, as evidenced by players whose origins are from right across the island who play in it. So I call it Ireland. Whereas the NI team, as per your preferred name, only represents the north, so I call it the north. Just personal preference really.
The idea anyone could take offence at Irish fans on an Irish football forum referring to the team as Ireland is a bit mental Ted

[EalingGreen]

Would it be fair to say you don't want Ireland the republic of..
To get a 2nd stadium? Why, I mean are we that awful!!

It's not what I "want", rather it's what's justifiable and in accordance with UEFA's rules and customary practice.

And before you imagine some sort of political bias (big "p") against ROI etc, I would love ("want") for the IFA/NI to get a big share of the sweeties etc, but recognise that we simply do not deserve it. For be clear, this is really England's bid, they are quite capable of hosting the entire tournament on their own and should have been eligible to do so, only the politics (small "p") of UEFA wouldn't permit it, meaning they roped in the other four. (Note that even combined, those other four would not be capable of hosting the Finals between them).

While besides the AVIVA, the only other stadium in ROI capable of hosting games is Croke, and why should UEFA (or the FAI for that matter) benefit a competing sport? I mean, there was no question eg of the SFA nominating Murrayfield, was there?

And that's before you accept that UEFA simply does not permit one city to host two groups. Look eg at London - over 5 x times the population of Dublin; 7 x PL teams and the same number of suitable stadia etc; 5 x international airports and Eurostar; the most advanced suburban transport system in the world outside Tokyo; and many times more hotel rooms etc.
Yet when it came to it, the "home of football" was allocated just the one host place, Spurs' ultra-modern, purpose-built £1bn super stadium. (Wembley was added solely for the Semi-Finals and Final, with England not even being permitted to stage their opening group game there to open the tournament)




It does appear that if we had a GAA stadium ready to roll with seating and specifications sorted, you would still would prefer Leicester or stoke or Southhampton to get it.I don't give a stuff either way about GAA games - I mean, what have they ever done for Football, they're our direct competitors for goodness sake!



We are actually quite good hosts.

Also we can accommodate 1 million etc people over St Patricks weekend.No doubt. But quite aside from the fact that eg Cardiff or Edinburgh could easily make similar claims, you don't seem to appreciate that in reality, this is the FA's bid - the other four Associations should appreciate that it is onlt England's bid which has got them an invitation to the party, too.




So it's not like the fans will be homelessThat's a relief:

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/a60b/live/75985e60-e39b-11ee-8025-31981ce1fedc.jpg.webp

[Bungle]

NI are also part of "Britain" (more accurately the UK) and are seen as such by UEFA and FIFA, rather than being linked with ROI/FAI. (And I say that not to make any political point, merely to recognise the actual situation see eg https://www.theifab.com/organisation/, or page 4 of https://www.icsspe.org/system/files/FIFA%20Statutes.pdf)

NI deserve no "favouritism" over qualification or anything else, at least any more than Scot/Wales/ROI, and esp if they provide no stadium. Agree about the IFA using it to garner investment in football generally, esp when Westminster and Dublin will likely be pouring money into the others.

Couldn't disagree more i.e. the IFA have zero leverage. Why they can't even muster much support at local level, seeing as Sinn Fein are pretty hostile to "soccer", at least in any Northern Ireland context, while the DUP have never actually been very supportive of the game either (maybe something about permitting games on Sundays?).

Fact is, once the vote was taken to award the tournament to the five Associations, that was the end of any real influence the IFA was ever likely to have.

I fully accept Northern Ireland are a separate team and viewed as such by UEFA. I was merely wording it in the context of us getting an automatic place over Wales and Scotland as we are not part of the UK in the event Northern Ireland aren't part of the bid. Yes, I'd love it, but the Scots and Welsh would understandably be pretty ****ed off, given that they are equal partners in the tournament. England are deserving of automatic qualification, but they recognised that they had to cede this to get it over the line with the help of the other 3 (4?). We can't really demand that, over the other 3 or 4 associations.

The IFA should go hell for leather to get something significant here. If I was them, I'd be trying to barter for a bit of extra leverage (guaranteed play off etc) given that it was a joint British/Irish bid. They literally have nothing to lose here. Uefa are likely to tell them to go f themselves, but the other four associations may have to concede something.

I don't know a huge amount about Northern Irish politics, but if the most working class areas such as the Falls Road or Shankhill Road suddenly got a legacy of grassroots football facilities the envy of any country and a commitment to investment in underage coaching, that legacy you would think would be supported by all parties. Certainly, they wouldn't be hostile to it I would think.

[JR89]

The idea anyone could take offence at Irish fans on an Irish football forum referring to the team as Ireland is a bit mental Ted

Well the fact it's been explained to Terri a 101 times between multiple Irish forums we'll probably be here again in a few months talking about the same thing.

[tetsujin1979]

EG, you might have missed my recent post


The long-held policy of the forum is to refer to the national side as Ireland, unless clarification is needed, in which case "Republic of Ireland" is used.
If you disagree, there's a support forum to complain about it. Any further posts in this forum on the topic will be deleted.

[tetsujin1979]

Posts deleted.
Last warning EG
use the support forum
https://foot.ie/forums/63-Support

[NeverFeltBetter]

Certainly sounds like there is a growing acceptance Casement will be a non-runner for 2028, even if the powers that be don't want to admit it: https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2024/0621/1455998-casement-park/

[Razors left peg]

Certainly sounds like there is a growing acceptance Casement will be a non-runner for 2028, even if the powers that be don't want to admit it: https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2024/0621/1455998-casement-park/

Anything to be said for moving it to Crossmaglen?

[Eirambler]

Officially confirmed tonight that Casement will not be getting built for the tournament. Therefore the north will not be hosting any games at Euro 2028.

Important now that it's clarified that one of the additional qualification places for hosts can only be allocated to the north if the four nations that are actually hosting games are already qualified (if at all). Would be a nonsense for them to be given a place ahead of an actual host nation.

[EalingGreen]

Important now that it's clarified that one of the additional qualification places for hosts can only be allocated to the north if the four nations that are actually hosting games are already qualified (if at all). Would be a nonsense for them to be given a place ahead of an actual host nation.When previous Euro's have been jointly hosted - Belgium/Netherlands or Austria/Switzerland or Poland/Ukraine - then both hosts were granted automatic qualification, despite there only being 16 finals places in total back then.

Obviously we cannot permit all five teams automatic places for 2028. But considering that there are now 24 places up for grabs, it's hardly unreasonable that two places should still be guaranteed, even if the other three of the five qualify in the normal manner.

On which point, England are pretty much a shoo-in, and there must be a reasonable chance that at least one of the other four should make it. Thereafter two of the other four qualifying by the usual method is hardly impossible, as we saw eg in France in 2016 when four out of five managed it, or 3 from five in 2020 (though only two made it in 2024).

[Diggs246]

When previous Euro's have been jointly hosted - Belgium/Netherlands or Austria/Switzerland or Poland/Ukraine - then both hosts were granted automatic qualification, despite there only being 16 finals places in total back then.

Obviously we cannot permit all five teams automatic places for 2028. But considering that there are now 24 places up for grabs, it's hardly unreasonable that two places should still be guaranteed, even if the other three of the five qualify in the normal manner.

On which point, England are pretty much a shoo-in, and there must be a reasonable chance that at least one of the other four should make it. Thereafter two of the other four qualifying by the usual method is hardly impossible, as we saw eg in France in 2016 when four out of five managed it, or 3 from five in 2020 (though only two made it in 2024).


https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/government-asks-fai-for-croke-park-and-pairc-ui-chaoimh-to-be-put-in-mix-to-replace-belfast-venue-for-euro-2028/a452274191.html

[JR89]

If the games are being spread out so an extra game is given to Ireland, Scotland, and Wales would be great if they could play that one game in Cork unless it's gonna cost a lot of money for just one game. Be better off using the Aviva unless the government are already have plans for Croke Park. Move a game or two to Croke Park if we qualify.

[EalingGreen]

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/government-asks-fai-for-croke-park-and-pairc-ui-chaoimh-to-be-put-in-mix-to-replace-belfast-venue-for-euro-2028/a452274191.html
Oh dear! There is no chance of Croke Park being used, for the simple fact that no one city is permitted to host two groups/sets of games - even England aren't allowed to use Wembley for their Group games (assuming they qualify), since the Tottenham Stadium has got the London gig. (Wembley will host the Final, and possibly both Semi-Finals, but I think that's all).

As for Páirc Uí Chaoimh, I'm not at all familiar with the stadium, but googling suggests it only has 21k seats - well short of UEFA's 30k minimum, while two uncovered terraced ends holding 12k each are a complete no/no. In addition to which, I seriously doubt that PUC meets UEFA's other tournament stadium requirements, which are notoriously demanding (eg state-of-the-art media facilities). Plus they require control of the stadium (I think) one month before games actually take place - hardly likely during the height of the GAA season.

Oh, and off the top of my head, there are already several other stadia in England which could probably meet the requirements right now eg Southampton, Brighton, Derby, Sunderland, Forest, Leicester etc - why would UEFA prioritise a stadium from a competing sport over one of its own?

But apart from that... :rolleyes:

[JR89]

Oh dear! There is no chance of Croke Park being used, for the simple fact that no one city is permitted to host two groups/sets of games - even England aren't allowed to use Wembley for their Group games (assuming they qualify), since the Tottenham Stadium has got the London gig. (Wembley will host the Final, and possibly both Semi-Finals, but I think that's all).

As for Páirc Uí Chaoimh, I'm not at all familiar with the stadium, but googling suggests it only has 21k seats - well short of UEFA's 30k minimum, while two uncovered terraced ends holding 12k each are a complete no/no. In addition to which, I seriously doubt that PUC meets UEFA's other tournament stadium requirements, which are notoriously demanding (eg state-of-the-art media facilities). Plus they require control of the stadium (I think) one month before games actually take place - hardly likely during the height of the GAA season.

Oh, and off the top of my head, there are already several other stadia in England which could probably meet the requirements right now eg Southampton, Brighton, Derby, Sunderland, Forest, Leicester etc - why would UEFA prioritise a stadium from a competing sport over one of its own?

But apart from that... :rolleyes:

Cork GAA wouldn't give two ****s if they're getting a bag of cash in exchange. Sure they moved a home hurling fixture to Semple Stadium and played the football game in their other stadium to accommodate Ed Sheeran.

Highly doubt it will be used anyway because wasn't up to par for the rugby WC which probably aren't half as strict as FIFA.

[EalingGreen]

Cork GAA wouldn't give two ****s if they're getting a bag of cash in exchange. Sure they moved a home hurling fixture to Semple Stadium and played the football game in their other stadium to accommodate Ed Sheeran.Fair enough on that point, but as for the rest, it isn't Cork GAA, or Dublin/the Minister who get to decide, it's UEFA.


Highly doubt it will be used anyway because wasn't up to par for the rugby WC which probably aren't half as strict as FIFA.Hadn't realised that (rugby). And yes, that won't have been nearly so strict. UEFA's Tournament Requirements for Euro2024 was 190 pages long, almost 100 of which concerned Stadia - the level of detail is phenomenal:
https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/OfficialDocument/uefaorg/Regulations/02/46/30/61/2463061_DOWNLOAD.pdf

I don't imagine 2028 will be any less stringent...

[Diggs246]

I would say uefa would like to give the now available venue to some other country than England. The fact that they have dozens of stadia ready to go and didn't apply by themselves tells its own tale.

Scotland should get their act together and talk to the rugby guys about Murrayfield as an option

[JR89]

I would say uefa would like to give the now available venue to some other country than England. The fact that they have dozens of stadia ready to go and didn't apply by themselves tells its own tale.

Scotland should get their act together and talk to the rugby guys about Murrayfield as an option

Yup a solution should be found that allows Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to get some extra games if possible rather than just letting England take them all. Otherwise might as well have just left them enter the bid as an England bid.

They would have won it anyway as just an England bid given their only competition was Turkey(?) and Uefa are giving them nothing.

[EalingGreen]

I would say uefa would like to give the now available venue to some other country than England. The fact that they have dozens of stadia ready to go and didn't apply by themselves tells its own tale.The FA are not especially popular within UEFA - part arrogance, part a reluctance to cosy up to whatever jerk is running the operation at the time. While UEFA want to encourage joint bids/discourage solo bids, otherwise only the same half dozen countries could ever host a 24 team event on their own - one of whom is Turkey, who UEFA really don't want to get it (even less popular than England!).

And of course England could host it on their own, but for the political (small "p") reasons above, roped in the other 4 Associations for their votes and their lobbying. (ROI also had the advantage of not being UK, but in the EU).


Scotland should get their act together and talk to the rugby guys about Murrayfield as an optionCan't see England, whose bid it effectively was, ever being happy to "allow" Scotland to have two venues, while the SFA had no bargaining power, since without England, there is/was no chance of the Euro's coming to Scotland. Nor can I see the SFA wanting to do Rugby any favours: i.e. should Scotland qualify, they'll be happy with playing their own games at Hampden.

[EalingGreen]

Yup a solution should be found that allows Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to get some extra games if possible rather than just letting England take them all. Otherwise might as well have just left them enter the bid as an England bid.

They would have won it anyway as just an England bid given their only competition was Turkey(?) and Uefa are giving them nothing.Realistically it is England's tournament (see my post above).

While the one stadium-per-city rules screws Wales, since they don't have another suitable stadium outside Cardiff; or ROI one outside Dublin, nor Scotland one outside Glasgow other than Murrayfield, which besides being Rugby, may not even meet all UEFA's very strict requirements.

I genuinely don't mean to seem "humble" in a Uriah Heap kind of way, but we (the other four) should be grateful that England gave us some of the cake, even if it is just a small slice. Or in NI's case, a few crumbs. If we're lucky.

[elatedscum]

I'd personally think it'd be a win for everyone if the Casement Park's games were moved to Croke Park. It's just an hour 45 mins from Belfast by car and 1 hour 15 mins from somewhere like Warrenpoint. Means if NI qualify, they could have an easily accessible stadium for their fans. Would also be easier for NI to hold onto training bases etc for teams, if there were more games on the island.

I understand the 1 stadium per city rule, but I reckon that's relatively movable, considering the unique circumstances. The fact it was shortlisted is also a sign of this - why would they shortlist 2 dublin stadia if they had no possibility at all of using Croke Park.

the only issue i can see is the amount of hotel beds - but i think the spill just spreads outwards - across the pale and maybe into Belfast as well, which is another positive for NI.

[elatedscum]

having read up on it, i don't think it's a Uefa rule at all or there's nothing that even indicates Uefa care about. Euro 2004 for example had 2 in Porto and 2 in Lisbon, comparable cities to Dublin

The bid decided to adopt it as a principal:

FAI CEO Jonathan Hill earlier explained that London aside, the bid had adopted a “one city, one stadium” approach.
He said: ‘In all major bid processes, you start with a short list of stadia, and this is whittled down to a final agreed list in order to give the bid the best chance of success and reflects the streamlined nature of the tournament.
‘This bid started with 14 stadia, and we now have our agreed final 10 which have been submitted "The bid, with the exemption of London, is based on a ‘one city, one stadia’ principle, and together we believe the list offers an array of superb stadia from across the UK and Ireland.

[CraftyToePoke]

the only issue i can see is the amount of hotel beds

Beds is it ?
You don't see that unionism up there dug in like their forefathers at the Somme not to play in Casement & managed to punt it into the long grass other side of the tournament, yet you think they'll roll up happily at HQ in Dublin instead ?

Picture a hurling final ending up at Windsor. Picture your county in it. It'd suck balls wouldn't it.

[elatedscum]

Beds is it ?
You don't see that unionism up there dug in like their forefathers at the Somme not to play in Casement & managed to punt it into the long grass other side of the tournament, yet you think they'll roll up happily at HQ in Dublin instead ?

Picture a hurling final ending up at Windsor. Picture your county in it. It'd suck balls wouldn't it.

Casement will cost €400m (funding coming from UK gov + GAA + Irish gov). I can see why as a Unionist, I wouldn’t want my tax being spent on a GAA stadium. (We’ll skip past the complexities of Windsor and Ravenhill getting refurbished and redeveloped about a decade ago for far less money in a time when it was cheaper to build stadia).

That desire makes sense to me - but if I have the choice to drive 90 mins to see my team play vs paying probably £300, taking a flight to Birmingham etc etc - I’m driving every time.

If I had the choice of Ireland playing Windsor or Villa Stadium, I’m picking Windsor.

And as for Dublin, playing a hurling final in Windsor - I honestly wouldn’t care.