Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, today welcomed UEFA’s announcement that Ireland and the UK will be the hosts of the UEFA EURO 2028 Championships.
Following a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, Ireland and the UK, a unique and pioneering five-Football Association partnership, was awarded the 2028 Tournament.
Ireland will jointly host the tournament with the UK and this presents a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ireland and our world-class tourism offering to Europe and the wider world. The award of the tournament to Ireland and the UK rewards the intensive North-South and East West co-operation in the preparation and presentation of the bid. It also provides a great opportunity for all to build upon that partnership to deliver a tournament that will mean so much to communities across Ireland and the UK.
Following an unprecedented collaboration between football associations, government partners, city, stadia and other stakeholders across Ireland and the UK this will be the largest sporting event we have ever jointly staged. It will also be the largest single international sporting event held in Ireland.
The Government will continue to work with the FAI and other partners to ensure that the benefits are maximised for all and towards making this tournament the most sustainable and inclusive ever held on these islands. UEFA EURO2028 will create meaningful social and economic benefits for all of the communities involved and will engage and inspire more players, fans and volunteers across our countries to get involved in sport.
Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said: I am over the moon to hear that Ireland and the UK will co-host UEFA EURO 2028 and want to express my congratulations to the FAI and all those involved in winning the bid. It will be the biggest event ever hosted by our two islands working together. We’re willing to invest in the Aviva Stadium and Casement Park to ensure that the stadia, north and south, are ready to welcome the world. I also want to ensure that there are benefits too for football clubs all over the country and I look forward to engaging with the FAI on how we can achieve that. Football truly is a global sport, played on every continent and is transcendent of race, social class or gender. I really think we can use this tournament to showcase Ireland to the world and bring people together.
Minister Catherine Martin said: I welcome the awarding of the EURO 2028 tournament to Ireland and the UK. Hosting the tournament will bring huge benefits to the country economically, particularly for our tourism industry, with over 120,000 visitors expected to travel to Ireland for the tournament. The sporting benefits will be felt right across the island, inspiring a new generation to take up football and other sports. UEFA Euro 2028 has the potential to encourage increased participation from all sections and communities of our society and to reflect the goals of the bid to deliver football for all, football for good and football for the future.
Minister of State Thomas Byrne said: I am delighted with UEFA’s decision to award the hosting rights for EURO 2028 to Ireland and the UK. I know that we can co-host a fantastic tournament for football fans which will place Ireland on the world stage. EURO 2028 offers us a wonderful opportunity to further grow the game in Ireland and we will work together to ensure that there is a positive lasting legacy from our hosting of the tournament. I am particularly pleased that Northern Ireland is a part of this great effort as 2028 will mark thirty years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. I want to commend everyone involved in this successful outcome.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste said: After the disappointment of losing out late in the day on the opportunity to co-host UEFA EURO 2020, today’s news will finally allow Dublin to take its place as a host city for the biggest sporting event ever to be held here. It will showcase Dublin to a global TV audience of hundreds of millions, in addition to the many fans, visitors, locals & stakeholders who will make their way to the city during the tournament. The excitement will be palpable! The City Council will work with our partners in Government and the FAI to ensure there are a suite of meaningful initiatives rolled out in Dublin and across the country to create a lasting legacy from EURO 2028.
