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”.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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
News
Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants
Daisy Jackson
Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.
In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.
The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.
Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”
The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”
After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.
The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.
He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.
Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.
“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.
“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.
“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”
Police release footage of missing Manchester man Adeo Alston-Ekpei’s last-known movements
Emily Sergeant
Video footage showing the last-known movements of a Manchester man who’s been missing for three weeks now has been released.
Detectives at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are continuing to search for Adeo Alston-Ekpei, who has not been seen since Friday 16 May.
The 25-year-old was seen in Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at around 3pm, before later being seen walking down Kingsway away from Manchester and close to the River Mersey, at around 5.20pm that same day.
Multiple lines of enquiry being explored by police at present, but anyone who believes they may have seen him from around this time, is asked to get in touch.
Adeo is described as being a mixed-race male, with long curly black hair and a long singular dreadlock, and bleached eyebrows. He has a cupid’s bow piercing and a right eyebrow piercing. He also has an ‘AKA’ tattoo on his right wrist, and a ‘24’ tattoo in the right side of his chest.
He was last seen wearing long blue denim shorts, an undone green short-sleeved button-up shirt, and white Adidas trainers.
Friends have also recently set up a public fundraiser to help with the search for Adeo.
Adeo Alston-Ekpei has been missing for almost three weeks / Credit: GMP
“We are dedicated to finding Adeo and getting much-needed answers for his family,” commented Detective Inspector Kelly, from GMP’s Manchester district, as the footage was released to the public this week.
“I would ask any residents around the Kingsway area, and surrounding housing estates off Kingsway into Gately, and who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from around this time, to please check and get in touch if you have any information.
“Likewise, if anyone believes they have seen Adeo, please get in touch with one of our officers. Any information is appreciated and investigated as we continue our work.”
#MISSING | We are continuing to ask for information relating to missing Adeo, who was last seen on May 16.
We have additionally released CCTV footage showing Adeo’s last known movements on Kingsway, Manchester.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 5, 2025
A spokesperson for Adeo’s family described the missing man as ‘kind, funny, and intelligent’ with a ‘huge heart’, but they say he ‘wasn’t himself when he disappeared’.
“He may have come across as agitated, lost, or confused,” the spokesperson admitted. “In his last call to his mum, he was in a very vulnerable state.”
Anyone with any information regarding Adeo’s whereabouts is urged to contact South Manchester CID directly on 0161 856 6051 or 0161 856 6063, or you can use the LiveChat function on GMP’s website and quote log number 838 of 18/05/25.
Alternatively, you can report information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.