Izuchukwu OkosiThe UK and Republic of Ireland have been handed a wild card to co-bid unopposed for Euro 2028 Championship after Turkey withdrew to focus on a joint bid with Italy for Euro 2032.
Turkey accepted to merge their Euro 2032 bid with Italy in July and that has now been approved by the governing body, UEFA.
While Italy had only bid for the 2032 tournament, Turkey had bid to host both Euro 2028 and 2032.
Both bids still need official approval by UEFA at a meeting of its executive committee.
“The presentations at that meeting will be an important part of the process which will take due consideration of the content of the bid submissions before reaching a decision,” said UEFA.
Turkey hosted June’s Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium, but a major international tournament has never been held in the country.
Reigning European champions Italy hosted the Euros in 1968 and 1980 and Rome’s Stadio Olimpico was also used as a venue at Euro 2020.
In April, 10 grounds were selected for the UK and Republic of Ireland’s bid, including Glasgow’s Hampden Park, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and Wembley in London.
Belfast’s Casement Park and Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock, two unbuilt stadiums, are also included in the bid.
The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales have never hosted a major tournament.
England were one of the 11 countries to host Euro 2020 along with Scotland, as well as being sole hosts of the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96.
UK & Ireland Euro 2028 host stadiums are as follows:
1. Wembley Stadium (London) (capacity 90,652)
2. Principality Stadium (Cardiff) (73,952)
3. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London) (62,322)
4. Etihad Stadium (Manchester) (61,000)
5. Everton Stadium (Liverpool) (52,679)
6. St James’ Park (Newcastle) (52,305)
7. Villa Park (Birmingham) (52,190)
8. Hampden Park (Glasgow) (52,032)
9. Aviva Stadium (Dublin) (51,711)
10. Casement Park (Belfast) (34,500)
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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