Not the news anyone wanted to hear.
There are growing concerns that one of the stadiums planned for Euro 2028 may not be ready in time. The UK and Ireland won the rights to host the tournament, with Belfast’s Casement Park selected as one of the venues.
However, the redevelopment of Casement Park is taking longer than expected. Jarlath Burns, president of the GAA, has admitted that the stadium might not be completed in time to host matches. “I’m very, very disappointed with the pace of how it’s gone,” he stated.
“It’s not looking as if we’re going to get the Euros. It was sending out the message that this city is now back, it’s now a modern, major European city. Having attended the final of the Europa League in the Aviva, I can see what UEFA bring to a stadium and to an event. West Belfast deserves that and we’re not getting it.
“It’s just a great pity because the carrot was dangled in front of us and then it was taken away. And actually the big loser here is going to be the game of soccer in Northern Ireland society and the economy.”
Which Stadiums Are Being Used for Euro 2028?
Casement Park is the only stadium in Northern Ireland scheduled to be used for the tournament, but there are still plenty of other venues across the UK and Ireland.
There are 10 confirmed stadiums for the UK and Ireland edition, including the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. In England, the host stadiums are Wembley, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, St James’ Park, Villa Park, and Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium. The remaining stadiums are Hampden Park in Glasgow and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Credit: Joe
