Manchester part of dream team UEFA EURO 2028 bid
The news follows the UK and Ireland FA's formal announcement today of its bid to host the prestigious tournament and would see the Etihad Stadium hosting on-the-pitch action as one of ten stadiums expected to be used for top tier matches during the tournament.
Manchester City Council Leader, Bev Craig, said: “Manchester is a great sporting city and is known the world over for its passion for football.
“We’re really excited to be part of the UK & Ireland bid to host the UEFA EURO 2028 tournament – which if successful will provide not just a fantastic boost for the city’s economy, but also a chance for fans of the sport, new and old, to get directly involved in what is sure to be some top tournament action here on our doorstep.
“We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact of hosting top-flight international matches here in Manchester during last year’s ground-breaking UEFA Women’s EURO tournament. Both fans and the city’s young players gained so much from it.
“Our goal for 2028 is to build further on this, and to help create a tournament to remember with a lasting legacy alongside it that helps further develop the sport from the grassroots up.”
Danny Wilson – Managing Director, Manchester City Operations, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the UK and Ireland’s exciting proposal to host the EURO 2028 competition. Should the bid be successful, it will be a fantastic event for the city of Manchester with thousands of local and international fans attending the Etihad Stadium to enjoy one of Europe’s biggest sporting events.”
The other stadiums included in the FAs’ joint bid are Wembley Stadium (London), National Stadium of Wales (Cardiff), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London), Everton Stadium (Liverpool), St James’ Park, (Newcastle), Villa Park (Birmingham), Hampden Park (Glasgow), Dublin Arena (Dublin), and Casement Park (Belfast).
UEFA is expected to confirm the chosen tournament hosts later this year.