The Football Association (FA) has today submitted its official bid for the UK and Ireland to be joint hosts of UEFA EURO 2028.
But only one Manchester stadium has been chosen as a potential host ground.
With the next edition of European football’s flagship competition all set to takeover Germany in 2024, bidding for 2028 is now well underway – and today, The FA has submitted its final bid for the UK and Ireland to jointly host the tournament.
The final bid comes the form of a “detailed plan” that the FA says “shows how our nations are collaborating to stage a historic football festival for all of Europe”.
They also claim that the UK and Ireland hosting would “take the tournament to new heights”.
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Today, the UK and Ireland final bid to host UEFA EURO 2028 has been submitted.
The bid shows how our nations are collaborating to stage an historic football festival for all of Europe and take the tournament to new heights.#UKIreland2028
The UK and Ireland’s plan for the tournament is described by the FA as a “world-class stadia concept” that’s been “tailor-made” for EURO 2028, and is enhanced by the “excellent technical facilities” and “operational experience” of the two countries.
The bid has, for the first time, proposed a number of host cities across the two countries, and confirmed the 10 potential host stadiums – with the City of Manchester Stadium being featured on the list, but Old Trafford failing to make the cut.
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Wembley Stadium in London, the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff, Hampden Park in Glasgow, Casement Park in Belfast, and Dublin Arena in Ireland are some of the other potential stadiums.
UK & Ireland EURO 2028 Host Stadiums
Wembley Stadium
National Stadium of Wales
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,322)
City of Manchester Stadium (61,000)
Everton Stadium (52,679)
St James’ Park (52,305)
Villa Park (52,190)
Hampden Park (52,032)
Dublin Arena (51,711)
Casement Park (34,500)
The FA says these 10 high-capacity football grounds that are famous around the world will provide the platform for the “biggest and most commercially-successful UEFA EURO ever”, with almost three million tickets to the tournament set to be available.
With matches able to be hosted around all four UK nations and Ireland, as well as within different English regions, the FA says it hopes to “reach as many communities as possible” during the tournament.
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The FA has submitted its official bid for the UK and Ireland to be joint hosts of UEFA EURO 2028 / Credit: FA
The bid also places “sustainability” and good governance practice” as “top priorities”, according to the FA.
“Our vision ‘Football for all, Football for good. Football for the future’ is a promise to help our Associations and UEFA grow a more diverse and inclusive game, as well as connect with new audiences and the next generation of fans and volunteers,” the FA said in a statement.
With substantial Government funding set to come from each of the host nations if the UK and Ireland’s bid is successful, the FA says it “shares and supports” UEFA’s plan that hosting UEFA EURO 2028 is “a significant opportunity to transform football development” and “generate meaningful economic, environmental, and social benefits”.
“We look forward to continuing our engagement with UEFA and listening and learning from the European football family to enhance our bid plans,” The FA concluded in its statement.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.
As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.
This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.
According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting.
This government is determined to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness.
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) December 18, 2024
The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.
Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.
Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.
More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.
This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.
It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.
Emily Sergeant -
12th April 2023 
