DCMS chair advises the UK and Ireland to focus on Euro 2028

The chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee has advised that the UK and Ireland soccer organisations should focus on the "achievable" goal of hosting the UEFA 2028 European Championship and abandon their 2030 FIFA World Cup "vanity project."

The Times reported on January 5th that the five associations were planning to abandon their campaign for the centennial World Cup and instead focus on Euro 2028.

A World Cup bid would be less likely to succeed due to political deal-making at FIFA, and a bid for the continental championship would be a better bet, according to association leaders.

The reports were welcomed by DCMS committee head Julian Knight, who believed that England's worldwide reputation would have been the most likely stumbling block to victory.

“Everyone knows that the furore over a World Cup bid is a giant, expensive vanity project,” he told the PA news agency.

“It’s sad as we are ideally suited to hosting a tournament, but we have huge reputation problems in the international game.

“So it’s best to aim our sights at something achievable, drop the ‘we are the home of football’ malarkey, reform our domestic game and focus on winning and delivering a really great Euros.”

UEFA has elected to organise the 'Finalissima' match between European champions Italy and Copa America winners Argentina at Wembley national stadium in London in June, indicating that English soccer's governing Football Association (FA) and the Wembley national stadium continue to retain UEFA's trust. This summer, England will also host the Women's Euro 2022 event.

Those involved in the 2030 feasibility study group will need to make a choice on which tournament to enter soon.

Last year, UEFA declared that parties interested in hosting Euro 2028 must confirm their interest by March 23rd, with bidders being named on April 5th.




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