UK-Ireland Euro 2028 bid submitted as Croke Park cut from stadia list

The Ireland-UK bid to host Euro 2028 has been submitted to UEFA with Croke Park excluded from the proposed stadia to be used in favour of the Aviva Stadium and a redeveloped Casement Park.

Yesterday the Government agreed final details of Ireland's participation.

Details were signed off at an incorporeal Cabinet meeting.

Wembley Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Etihad Stadium, St James' Park, the new Everton Stadium in Liverpool and an expanded Villa Park would feature in England.

Wales would be represented with the Millennium Stadium, Scotland by Hampden Park and the two Irish stadia make up the 10 proposed venues.

While the GAA granted permission for both Croke Park and Casement Park to be used, only the not yet built Belfast stadium has been included.

FAI CEO Jonathan Hill said Aviva Stadium was selected over Croke Park due to a limit of one stadium per city rule, apart from London.

"In all major bid processes, you start with a shortlist 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," said Hill, who added the tournament would be worth approximately €240m to the Irish economy.

"This will only support our plans to grow the game and will act as a catalyst as we seek to finance infrastructure across all levels of Irish football, from grassroots to League of Ireland.

"Our hope is to welcome football fans from Europe and across the world