Newcastle Confirmed in UK & Ireland Euro 28 Bid
Football could well be coming home in 2028, with Newcastle at the heart of the action.
Newcastle has today been named as one of ten host cities for the UK and Ireland’s joint bid to host the UEFA Euro 2028 football tournament.
The joint bid would see the men’s tournament played across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Alongside Newcastle United’s St James’ Park, the other host grounds in England are Wembley, Etihad stadium, Villa Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the new home of Everton under construction at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool.
Elsewhere, the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff, Glasgow’s Hampden Park, the Dublin Arena, and Casement Park in Belfast would all be set to host fixtures if the bid proves successful.
Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council, said: “The EUFA Euro tournament is undoubtedly one of the biggest sporting events in the world and it is fantastic for our city to be included in this joint bid.
“Football has provided some truly memorable moments in recent years, including England winning the UEFA Women’s EURO last summer, and it would be incredible for our city to be part of the journey of the men’s team achieving the same success.
“Newcastle has an excellent track record of holding elite sporting events, we’re a city that is set up to deliver, and we’re proud to be part of this bold and inclusive bid which promises to bring our nations together and inspire future generations.”
NE1 represents the interests of 1,400 businesses in Newcastle city. Commenting on the Euro 2028 BID announcement, Stephen Patterson, Chief Executive of NE1 said: “We are delighted that Newcastle and St James’ Park has been selected as one of the ten host venues for Great Britain and Ireland’s Euro 2028 BID.
“Newcastle is well versed in hosting major international sporting fixtures and has a hugely successful track record of delivering world-class events. The city’s business community is geared up and ready to welcome fans from across Europe and will help deliver a fan experience that is second to none.
“Events like Euro 2028 deliver a huge economic boost to the city and wider region, but they also help put Newcastle on the world map, cementing our reputation as a modern, European regional capital city. We have a beautiful city, and events such as these provide a golden opportunity to share that with a global audience. We can’t wait to play our part in delivering a successful European Football Championships and help take the tournament to new heights.”
Newcastle has hosted a number of major sporting events in recent years, including the opening fixture of last year’s Rugby League World Cup, the European Cup rugby finals in 2019, fixtures from the Rugby World Cup in 2015, and each year hosts the Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon.
Image: Jim Mawdsley (Events and Culture Newcastle City Council), Mehrdad Ghodoussi (Newcastle United co-owner), Amanda Staveley (Newcastle United co-owner), and Darren Eales (Newcastle United CEO)
