FAI CEO David Courell has confirmed this week that UEFA has rejected the possibility of the Republic of Ireland hosting additional games at different venues for Euro 2028.
The Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, and initially Northern Ireland won the bid to co-host the tournament. However, due to redevelopment issues with Casement Park, Northern Ireland will no longer host games in four years’ time.
There had been hope that the Republic of Ireland might host games at venues like Croke Park or SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh to compensate for Northern Ireland’s exclusion. However, UEFA has stated that the original venues will remain in use, with games redistributed among them, ruling out the addition of new venues or cities.
However, Courell hopes that UEFA do eventually allow the southern part of the country to host more games
"While we, the Republic of Ireland, did express a desire to host as many games as possible, including standing up an additional venue in this country, UEFA has taken the decision to fall back to a nine-venue solution for the tournament. It’s their tournament, and we respect their position," the FAI CEO told RTÉ Sport this week.
"As a result, the fixtures that were scheduled to take place in Casement Park will now be redistributed across the existing venues.
Northern Ireland look set to lose the chance to possibly get a wildcard spot for Euro 2028 with Casement Park not being refurbished in time.
FAI CEO David Courell has stated, “To be clear, Northern Ireland won’t qualify for an automatic slot if they are not a host nation”.… pic.twitter.com/jkZaDwJ8x7
— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) November 26, 2024
"The Aviva Stadium is a phenomenal venue with a rich history, including hosting the Europa League final this year. We are hopeful that UEFA will see the merit in allocating more games south of the border."
Northern Ireland’s removal from the host list significantly boosts the Republic of Ireland’s chances of making the final tournament in 2028.
If more than two of the five host nations fail to qualify, only the two with the best records will secure host places. With Northern Ireland now excluded, this number could drop to four. Northern Ireland will also no longer be eligible for automatic qualification.
Courell stated that discussions with UEFA are ongoing, with a focus on ensuring Northern Ireland's involvement in some capacity.
"Personally, I’ve been involved in this project since 2018, and it’s been a pleasure to work with our counterparts in Northern Ireland," he said.
"Discussions are ongoing with UEFA.
"The reality is, while they may not be hosting, we still absolutely want them to feature in this tournament. We are in deep conversations with UEFA about what shape and form that will take, whether through hosting training facilities, events, or anything of that nature.
"Please know that we’re working with our counterparts to ensure they remain involved."
