Scottish FA joins rest of UK and Ireland to submit joint bid to host Euro 2028 to UEFA

The Scottish Football Association has submitted a joint bid to host Euro 2028 alongside the English, Welsh and Irish FAs.

The final dossier of the UK and Ireland bid was formally sent to UEFA on Wednesday.

It is a joint effort from the football associations to hold the European Championships across the five nations in five years time.

If successful then Hampden Park in Glasgow will host games at the flagship tournament alongside stadiums in Cardiff, Dublin, Belfast, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool and London.

Hampden hosted four games at the continent wide competition in Euro 2020, which was held in 2021, with Wembley also hosting a series of games including the final and semi-finals.

England also hosted the 1996 edition of the championships.

The deadline to submit a formal application was on Wednesday.

The ten stadiums included in the bid are Hampden, Wembley, Villa Park, Everton Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Etihad Stadium and St James’ Park, the Aviva Stadium, Casement Park, and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

The SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell revealed Hampden will have an upgrade if the is successful.

However, he added that the exact nature of the improvements was still to be decided.

Maxwell said in an SFA video: “We’re always looking to improve the stadium and that happens alongside Euro 2028.

“Obviously as the stadium owner now, we want to make sure the supporter experience is as good as it can be.

“There will be some additions and improvements that are made as part of the Euro 28 bid and hopefully when we’re successful, we will work out exactly what those will look like.”

A joint statement from the five associations involved said: “Today, the UK and Ireland final bid to host Euro 2028 has been submitted.

“The bid is a detailed plan that shows how our nations are collaborating to stage an historic football festival for all of Europe and take the tournament to new heights.

“An online presentation of our compelling bid, including a joint statement of support by our Heads of
Governments, is here: UK & Ireland UEFA EURO 2028 Bid Brochure

“We are delighted to propose to UEFA and the European football family a world-class stadia concept tailormade for EURO 2028.

“This plan is enhanced by our excellent technical facilities and operational experience.”

With an average capacity of 58,000 across the ten stadiums, almost three million tickets will be available for the games, more than any other previous Euros.

And if successful it is predicted that the event will generate cumulative socio-economic benefits of up to £2.6bn.

The statement continued: “We are delighted that our Government Partners are fully committed to hosting UEFA EURO 2028. They have signed the relevant tournament guarantees and will ensure the event is fully supported. This will create a welcoming, exciting and safe football experience that players and fans will enjoy in every city and every game.

“With our Governments’ once-in-a-generation legacy investment, we share and support UEFA’s plan that hosting UEFA EURO 2028 is a significant opportunity to transform football development and generate meaningful economic, environmental and social benefits.”

UEFA’s executive committee set to make a decision on hosting for Euro 2028 and Euro 2032 in September this year, with the UK and Ireland bid facing competition from Turkey.

A statement from the game’s governing body in Europe said: “UEFA today received three bid dossiers from member national associations interested in hosting the 2028 and 2032 European Championships,” a statement read.

“United Kingdom and Ireland (represented by the football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales) submitted their bid dossier for EURO 2028. The Turkish Football Federation submitted their bid dossier to host either EURO 2028 or 2032 and the Italian Football Federation submitted their bid dossier for EURO 2032.

“UEFA would like to thank all national associations for submitting their dossiers. In the forthcoming months, the UEFA administration will evaluate each of the bids, with the UEFA Executive Committee to vote on who has won the right to host both editions in October.”

The Scottish Government has welcomed the bid.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Scotland has a well-earned global reputation as an outstanding host of major events, and football – our national game – is a powerful force for good in communities across the country.

“It is this combination which underpins Scottish Government support for the joint bid.

“Together with the Scottish Football Association and partners across the bid nations, I am excited by the prospect of building on the successful delivery of Euro 2020 in Scotland and our country hosting another incredible championship.

“UEFA Euro 2028 will have a significant global reach and has the potential to leave a positive lasting legacy in Scotland by generating significant economic, environmental and social benefits.”