Ireland and the UK's joint bid to host Euro 2028 bid is set to go unchallenged after UEFA said it received a request from Italy and Turkey to merge their individual bids for Euro 2032 together. However, it is understood that Turkey have not witdrawn their bid to host the finals in 2028.
The current joint bid from England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales and solo-bid from Turkey means that the race to host the competiton is firmly in the Ireland and home nations favour.
UEFA said it will now work with the two federations in Turkey and Italy to ensure their joint bid meets all the requirements for the 24-team tournament.
A statement by European football's governing body said: "UEFA will now work with FIGC [the Italian Football Federation] and TFF [the Turkish Football Federation] to ensure that the documentation to be submitted for their joint bid is compliant with the bidding requirements.
BREAKING: UK and Ireland's bid to host Euro 2028 set to be unopposedhttps://t.co/WIS2oWwr9q
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UEFA is also expected to make a decision on whether the joint bid from the UK and Ireland is compliant well in advance of October 10, when the UEFA executive committee will decide who will host Euro 2028 and Euro 2032.
In April, the Aviva Stadium and the still unbuilt Casement Park in Belfast were listed among 10 confirmed venues for the combined Irish and UK bid.
The other eight stadia are Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, Everton's new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium, Villa Park and St James’ Park in England, Hampden Park in Scotland and the Cardiff National Stadium in Wales.
"If the joint bid does comply with such requirements, it will be submitted to the UEFA Executive Committee at the meeting scheduled on 10 October, where the appointments for 2028 and 2032 will be made.
"Decisions on venues and match schedules will be made at a later stage," the added further
