EURO 2028 will be hosted by a now derelict stadium after the UK and Ireland won the bid to host the tournament.
Turkey have withdrawn from the bidding process – leaving the UK and Ireland as the sole candidate, with the hosting choice to be formally determined at a meeting of Uefa’s ruling executive committee on Monday and then publicly confirmed in Nyon the next day.
Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson insists construction will begin on Casement Park now that the UK and Ireland have been successful in their bid.
When complete the arena will be able to hold 34,500 fans.
Windsor Park, where Northern Ireland currently play home games, does not meet minimum capacity requirements for the Euros.
So the unbuilt Casement Park is part of the UK and Ireland’s joint bid.
It has been unused since 2013, but was once Northern Ireland’s top Gaelic football ground.
According to the BBC, redevelopment of the site has been met with a legal challenge from local residents.
It’s reported there were objections to its size and the impact it will have on the local area.
However, the £77.5million development was given the go-ahead last summer after a West Belfast residents’ group lost its legal challenge.
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And the ground has been designed by the architects responsible for Tottenham’s incredible £1billion stadium.
Casement Park is one of two grounds in the UK and Ireland’s bid that are currently unbuilt.
The other is Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock, which is due to be completed by 2024.
That is the same year work on all potential Euro 2028 host stadiums must have started by.
The UK and Ireland’s bid to host the iconic tournament is being rivalled by Turkey.
If successful, the likes of Wembley, St. James’ Park, Villa Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Etihad will be among ten grounds to stage games during the competition.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
