Councillor Bev Craig Leader of the city council and Danny Wilson from MCFC pictured at the Etihad Stadium
The Etihad Stadium in Manchester has been confirmed as one of the host stadiums for the UEFA EURO 2028 competition that will be held in the UK and Ireland.
The announcement follows UEFA’s decision to select the UK and Ireland as the competition’s hosts.
In total, ten stadia are due to host the UK and Ireland’s largest-ever sporting event with more than three million tickets set to be made available for the entirety of the competition.
Danny Wilson, Managing Director, Manchester City Operations, said: "Everyone at Manchester City is delighted to be a part of the UK and Ireland’s successful UEFA EURO 2028 bid, and we can’t wait to bring fans from across the country and Europe to Manchester to enjoy one of sports’ biggest spectacles.”
"To be one of the few stadia across the UK and Ireland chosen to host the competition is testament to the Club’s investment into the Etihad Stadium, and our vision to develop a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination.”
According to the combined FAs, the UEFA EURO 2028 bid was successful thanks to its clear and compelling vision to help domestic and European football grow a more diverse and inclusive game, connect with new audiences and inspire the next generation of players, fans and volunteers. The UK and Ireland expressed this vision as ‘Football for all. Football for good. Football for the future’.
The UK and Ireland was also awarded the Tournament based on the nations’ collective wealth of operational experience and world-class technical facilities – with a long track-record of staging successful major sporting events, including the ground-breaking UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "This is brilliant news for the UK and Ireland and for Manchester, which is known the world over as a great footballing city.
"As well as giving fans of the sport the chance to get directly involved in world-class footballing action, it will provide a fantastic boost to the city's economy.
"We also know from hosting international matches in Manchester during last year's ground-breaking UEFA Women's EURO tournament how much young players get out of this, and the positive impact it has on them.
"Our goal for 2028 is to build further on this and help create a tournament to remember with a lasting legacy alongside it that helps further develop the sport from the grassroots up."
Alongside the Etihad Stadium, the other stadia due to host matches are Wembley Stadium (London), National Stadium of Wales (Cardiff), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London), Everton Stadium (Liverpool), St James’ Park, (Newcastle), Villa Park (Birmingham), Hampden Park (Glasgow), Dublin Arena (Dublin) and Casement Park (Belfast).
All tickets will be managed and sold by UEFA, and further information about the fixture schedule will be issued well before the competition starts.