Ireland has told Uefa it wants to host more Euro 2028 matches

Ireland has asked to host more Euro 2028 matches after five games due to be staged in Belfast will no longer be played in the city.

Junior minister for sport, Thomas Byrne, said they had asked for any additional matches to be “on a regional basis”, suggesting that they be held outside Dublin.

The UK Government announced last month that it would not be providing funding to rebuild Casement Park in time for the Euros.

The derelict Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stadium in west Belfast had been due to stage five games in Uefa’s showpiece tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland in 2028.

The Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the home of Ireland’s international football team, is already set to host six games in the tournament.

After Casement Park was axed as a Euros venue, Irish ministers suggested that the GAA’s flagship stadium at Croke Park in Dublin and Cork’s Pairc Ui Chaoimh could be alternative venues.

Speaking at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, culture and sports minister Catherine Martin said that she would like to see more of the tournament’s matches held on the island of Ireland.

Asked whether any additional Euros games should be held outside of Dublin, she said: “I think that’s ultimately for the stakeholders themselves to decide. But yes, the more that can be held on a wider spread.

“I always talk about regional tourism as well, and looking at the 250,000 people working in tourism, 70% of them are in the regions.”

Mr Byrne said: “We want more matches, we’ve expressed a view to Uefa, we want them on a regional basis, I’ve spoken about that before.

“Our overarching objective is to have more games on the island. There’s ongoing discussions with partners about that, but it is their decision at the end