Euro 2028: Where will the games be played? Will Ireland qualify automatically?

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Euro 2028: Where Will The Games Be Played? Will Ireland Qualify Automatically?
Turkey's withdrawal from the bidding to host the 2028 European Championship means Ireland and the UK's confirmation as tournament hosts is essentially a formality. 
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James Cox

Turkey's withdrawal from the bidding to host the 2028 European Championship means Ireland and the UK's confirmation as tournament hosts is essentially a formality.

This will be confirmed at a Uefa meeting in Nyon, Switzerland next Tuesday.

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Here is everything you need to know.

Will the Republic of Ireland qualify automatically?

This remains uncertain.

Uefa have already said it is highly unlikely that the five host nations – Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales – will be given automatic places at the tournament.

However, one suggestion would see four of the nations all but guaranteed qualification. It would see two automatic host places, as has happened before, with two places reserved for the highest-ranked teams who do not secure qualification.

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This would mean one host nation missing out. However, this situation could change and it remains unclear how the two automatic places would be allocated.

How many Irish stadiums will be used?

Under the proposal, there will be two host stadiums on the island of Ireland.

One will be the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the other will be Casement Park in Belfast.

Full list of host stadiums

Republic of Ireland

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Aviva Stadium

Lansdowne Road is a certainty for the tournament. The 51,000 capacity home of Irish football and rugby has hosted its fair share of high-profile games.

The next showpiece at the Aviva Stadium will be the 2024 Europa League final.

The Aviva Stadium was initially in the plans for the multi-country Euro 2020 finals. However, Ireland's lockdown status at the time meant it was removed.

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Northern Ireland

Casement Park 

Construction of the redeveloped Belfast Stadium is due to begin next year with completion scheduled for 2026.

The capacity of the stadium is set to be 34,500.

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England

Wembley Stadium

The home of English football is no stranger to showpiece events. It has hosted a number of Champions League finals, while it was also the venue for the Euro 2020 final.

With a capacity of 90,000, it will be the biggest Euro 2028 venue.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Spurs' impressive new stadium, opened in April 2019, has a capacity of 62,850.

Etihad Stadium

The Eithad is the home of Premier League and European champions Manchester City. It beat off competition from Old Trafford. The home of City's rivals, Manchester United, is an iconic arena which is more well known in world football. However, parts of it have become dilapidated due to lack of investment from United's owners, the Glazer family.

Meanwhile, the Etihad's capacity is due to be increased to 62,000 by 2025.

Everton Stadium

Everton's new stadium is due for completion late next year, with a reported capacity of 52,000.

Villa Park

Aston Villa's ground hosted four games at Euro 96, and was a regular FA Cup final venue while Wembley was being redeveloped.

It currently holds over 42,000 and there are plans to extend its capacity to 50,000.

St James' Park 

Newcastle United's stadium hosted games at Euro 1996. It holds 52,000. However, the club (under Saudi ownership) is currently considering an extension, which would be completed by 2028.

Wales

The Principality

The Cardiff stadium previously hosted the 2017 Champions League final, along with a number of FA Cup finals while Wembley Stadium was being redeveloped.

With a capacity of 74,500, it will be the second-biggest Euro 2028 venue.

Scotland

Hampden Park

Scotland's national stadium currently holds over 50,000, and plans would see it increased to 65,000.

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