Around the ceremonial session in Nyon, Switzerland, the president of the Union of European Football Associations, Aleksandar Čeferin, outlined a pivotal development for European football. He confirmed that the 2028 European Championship will be staged across Great Britain and Ireland, a joint hosting arrangement that elevates the tournament to a wider, cross-border footprint and creates new opportunities for fans, teams, and logistics alike. The announcement marks a milestone in how the continent plans major championships, reflecting a model that values both tradition and broader engagement across the British Isles and their neighbours.
The trajectory to Euro 2028 became clear on October 7 when the Italian and Turkish bid teams chose to withdraw their joint bid for 2028 and instead pivot their focus toward the bid for the 2032 edition. This decision effectively opened the door for the United Kingdom and Ireland to present a unified plan for hosting Euro 2028, aligning with UEFA’s long-term strategy to distribute major tournaments across diverse regions while maintaining the competition’s high standards and competitive integrity. The move underscored how host selections can shift rapidly in response to strategic priorities and the evolving landscape of European football diplomacy.
Since the 2016 reform, the European Championship has featured a 24-team format. The teams are organized into six groups of four, with the top two finishers in each group advancing to the knockout phase. Alongside those advancing from group play, the four best third-place teams also secure a place in the round of 16, setting the stage for a knockout sequence that culminates in a grand finale. This structure has helped balance inclusivity with intensity, ensuring a wide field of participants while preserving the drama and resilience required in the later rounds.
At present the defending European champion is Italy, whose national squad captured the title in a memorable campaign that underscored the strength and depth of Italian football on the continental stage. Regarding historical context, the Soviet Union’s national team achieved the first triumph of the European Championship in 1960, a landmark moment that remains a reference point in the annals of the sport. While Russia has had notable performances and podium finishes in European competition, the 2008 bronze remains among the best finishes for the team in independent competition, reflecting a blend of talent, strategy, and national football development. These historical threads help illuminate the evolving narrative of the European Championship and the enduring significance of regional success within a broader international framework.
Unofficially, discussions about where Euro 2032 will be played have circulated for years as part of the ongoing planning process that accompanies each hosting decision. The Euro tournaments, with their long lead times and complex logistics, often see host country configurations emerge from a mix of bid performance, regional capacity, and political consensus. The current focus on Euro 2028 in Great Britain and Ireland represents a modern chapter in that ongoing dialogue, reflecting UEFA’s ongoing commitment to delivering a world-class event while embracing the gateways that different nations provide to fans and participants alike. Such plans are examined in depth by national associations, stadium authorities, and tournament organizers as they map out venues, transportation networks, and security strategies to ensure a seamless and memorable championship experience for supporters on both sides of the Irish Sea.