UK and Ireland win joint bid to host major tournament with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium one of the ten chosen venues
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host a number of Euro 2028 international matches as the UK and Ireland was today (10th) confirmed as the joint host countries for the tournament.
The decision was announced following a meeting of the Uefa executive committee at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, with the UK and Ireland chosen as a “unique and pioneering” partnership between five separate football associations. Spurs legend Gareth Bale was among those making a presentation to Uefa as part of the bid.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened in 2019 and is the second-largest capacity football stadium in London, was named among the ten host venues in the UK and Ireland joint bid earlier this year.
To mark the historic occasion, Spurs club chairman Daniel Levy, alongside club ambassador Ledley King, welcomed London mayor Sadiq Khan, London Assembly member for Enfield and Haringey Joanne McCartney, Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet and chief executive Andy Donald to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to celebrate its inclusion.
Levy said: “It was always our vision that the stadium would create a new sport, leisure and entertainment destination in London – to be named as one of the host venues for Uefa Euro 2028 is testament to what we have created here. Our stadium has become renowned for its unique atmosphere and we are excited for fans from across Europe to come and experience this in five years’ time.
“The impact of a major international football tournament coming to London N17 will be huge for the area of Tottenham and leave a significant legacy. We are already starting to see the socio-economic benefits being delivered locally as a result of the increased number of events and the local spending it creates.
“Furthermore, having some of the continent’s best players perform on the biggest stage right on their doorstep is sure to inspire the next generation of young male and female footballers from the local area.”
Khan said: “London is the undisputed sporting capital of the world – and I am absolutely delighted that we have been chosen to host a record number of games at Uefa Euro 2028 as part of a joint United Kingdom and Ireland bid.
“The capital has hosted numerous major sporting events that are etched in the memory of Londoners and visitors, including the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and men and women’s Euros.
“Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are two of the most iconic sporting venues in the world and I have no doubt that London will give a great welcome to fans from across the world who come to enjoy the Uefa Euro 2028.”
Cllr Ahmet added: “It is amazing news that Tottenham has been named as one of the host venues for Euro 2028 and this is a memorable day for everyone connected with Haringey. We are so proud to be part of one of the biggest global events on the sporting calendar and it truly puts our borough on the map.
“We want to say a big congratulations to Tottenham for being the only stadium apart from Wembley to stage games in London. We will be welcoming people from across Europe and the rest of the world into Haringey to see everything that we have to offer and will work to maximise the benefits this will bring to local communities and businesses.
“This will mean so much for the people of Tottenham and we should be proud of the fact that the whole world will be watching us.”
Joining the club and local representatives were young people from the local community who are said to “symbolise the life-changing opportunities created by the club and its stadium” since 2019. They included Jeylan Cemal, who attended a jobs fair at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March 2022 while looking for work after leaving college and is now a stadium steward, as well as Harry Sapford, a Spurs fan who was introduced to the catering team at the club by the Down’s Syndrome Association and has now been working at the stadium for the past year as a chef’s apprentice.
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