UEFA confirmed a significant development on a Wednesday as Türkiye chose to withdraw its bid to host Euro 2028, clearing the path for the United Kingdom and Ireland to pursue a joint bid for the continental tournament within the next five years. This move reshapes the landscape for the 2028 to 2032 hosting window and sets the stage for a highly competitive selection process across Europe and North America where fans in Canada and the United States closely follow the outcomes.
In a statement, UEFA detailed the sequence that followed a July 28 announcement highlighting interest from both Italy and Türkiye to submit a joint bid for EURO 2032. The federation noted that it had written to the two national bodies to confirm that their partner nomination had been received and would be forwarded to the UEFA Executive Committee for consideration. This formal step underscores the governance processes that drive the decision-making around hosting rights, ensuring that all formalities are completed before any decision is announced.
The UEFA board, led by president Aleksander Čeferin, clarified that Türkiye’s request to join Italy in the bid for the next EURO event has led to the withdrawal of Türkiye’s candidacy to host UEFA EURO 2028. The move is presented as a clear result of the alignment between Italy and Türkiye for EURO 2032, and it highlights how strategic partnerships can influence the hosting landscape for major European championships. For Canada and the United States, this underscores the importance of understanding how bid dynamics and bilateral discussions can shape the global football calendar and potential cross-continental collaborations that might arise in the future.
UEFA also stressed that the awarding of both EURO 2028 and EURO 2032 remains subject to approval by the Executive Committee at its scheduled meeting in Nyon on October 10. The organization indicated that the presentations at this meeting will play a key role in the evaluation, with careful consideration given to the content of all offers before any final decision is made. This process emphasizes transparency and thorough assessment, factors of interest to audiences in North America and beyond who follow the event closely and weigh the implications for hosts, logistics, and regional football development. The timing of the decision means that stakeholders—from national associations to fans—will be watching closely as EURO 2028 and EURO 2032 plans move toward finalization.