Turkey's withdrawal left road clear for winning bid
Matches The Inpho/evan Of Treacy Ireland Venues To The One Aviva Pic: Ten Will Future: Across Uk Stadium Bright File Host And Be
And there was us presuming Ireland’s only stroll in October would be against Gibraltar.
Next Tuesday morning in Uefa’s headquarters overlooking Lake Geneva, the serene surroundings in the air will be punctured by the FAI euphoria of Ireland gaining a European victory.
The reality, of course, is that the success of the tilt was harnessed by the behemoth that is the English FA.
They alone could have sealed the bid as a standalone entity, their abundance of stadia and transport networks offering Uefa the security and income they crave.
Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland sit vey much as the minority partners in the arrangement.
Once Uefa suggested they reroute their energies from the 2030 World Cup quest to accommodate a clear corridor for Spain and Portugal to team up with nations in other confederations, Turkey didn’t stand a chance of usurping the UK and Irish proposal.
Here’s some of the key questions and answers about the concept and what is to unravel over the protracted period of almost five years.
Try as they have for several tournaments, the Turks were fighting a losing battle on their own. Coalescing with Italy for the 2032 version presents a feasible chance of being looked favourably upon by the Uefa suits.
Uefa will confirm the successful bidders for their next two men’s Euros, 2028 and 2032.
Delegations from all bidders will give presentations to members of Uefa’s executive committee. This is the 20-member supreme body of the umbrella organisation, including president Aleksander Čeferin, and once had a certain John Delaney among its number until his demise in 2019.
The 2028 process will be straightforward; merely a coronation for the UK and Ireland bid. Any concerns detected since the initial submission was lodged in April have been substantially dealt with and no hiccups are anticipated.
All five of the associations will be present and dressed in their Sunday best for what they deem a momentous day. Noel Mooney, the Limerickman leading the Welsh FA, will be accompanied to the ceremony by retired legend Gareth Bale. A comprehensive itinerary of media duties with international outlets will be fulfilled to rejoice the tap-in.
It will be the first time in Ireland's history to host senior major tournament football.
That was meant to occur in 2020 as part of the pan-European version but the covid-19 pandemic delayed the event by a year and Uefa stripped their hosting due to health-driven attendance restrictions. Ireland had missed out on qualifying for those Euros.
Lansdowne Road has staged a club final, the 2011 Europa League decider, and will do so again next May but this sees the international ceiling being smashed.
Only half of that question can truly be answered. Let’s deal with the facts first. The Dublin Arena, as it will be known due to Uefa’s commercial conflict, will be home to a minimum of six matches. That encompasses four group fixtures complemented by a last-16 and quarter-final tie.
Less affirmed is the availability of the other venue, Belfast’s Casement Park. The derelict home of Antrim shaded Croke Park as the GAA stadium of choice from this island due to it being a 'clean' site and compensating for Northern Ireland’s lack of the minimum 30,000 stadium, but it’s beset by delays. With costs soaring above £100m, which jurisdiction subsidises the rebuild may become a political football. Should Casement not be ready, the spare games are likely to be absorbed by the UK venues, with Belfast’s only involvement to act as a training base or draw location.
Not in the first instance anyway. Considering the relative ease of England qualifying by securing a top-two finish in the group, coupled with the ticket demand they generate across Europe, expect them to participate. Germany’s slump ahead of next year’s hosting has been partially attributed to their lack of competitive action.
It’s understood Uefa will await the conclusion of the regulation qualifiers, and Nations League playoffs in March 2028, before bequeathing two golden tickets to unsuccessful nations. Should more than two not make it, splitting them will be determined by ranking.
Were Ireland to be part of the 24-team showpiece – and hosting a party you’re not invited to it doesn’t bear thinking about – they would play a minimum of two group games in Dublin.
Not much, other than expressing their excitement and trumpeting 'lasting legacies'. Chief executive Jonathan Hill insists the Irish economy will benefit by €240m and the debt-ridden association will also accrue commercial gains.