2023-10-10 19:47:58
Despite the award of Euro 2028 to their lands, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could still be forced to participate in qualifying to play the competition.
The five countries which will organize Euro 2028 could still go through the qualifications to access the competition, the boss of the English football federation, Mark Bullingham, said on Tuesday.
The organization of the tournament in five different countries does not allow everyone to be automatically allocated a place, as for Germany in 2024, for example. UEFA would have proposed to draft two teams out of five, however, in the event of failure during the qualifying process.
“From our point of view, it’s good to take part in the qualifiers and we want all (the five host countries) to take part.”said Bullingham to Sky Sports.
According to the manager, “It has always been part of our discussions with other countries and UEFA that we participate in qualifying. We think that with the new format of European football it is the right thing to do.”
British media had reported this wish even before Euro 2028 was awarded, explaining that England wanted to encounter a high degree of adversity through qualifying, rather than playing friendly matches without much at stake.
Since 1984, the Three Lions selection has only failed once in qualifying, ahead of Euro-2008 contested by sixteen teams. However, it is more difficult for teams like Northern Ireland (only one Euro contested) or Wales, whose only two appearances took place once the format was extended to twenty-four teams.
Euro 2028 is to be held at six stadiums in England, as well as in Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and Cardiff. According to Bullingham, there will be “five matches” in Belfast and «six» in each of the three other cities mentioned. “It’s great that these countries can benefit from a significant number of matches, especially if they end up hosting some of their own home matches”he commented.
Welsh FA chief Noel Mooney has confirmed that Cardiff are bidding to host the opening match. The Welsh capital could also host a quarter-final, like Glasgow, Dublin and Wembley, according to the press. The England team’s stadium, in north London, would be selected to host the semi-finals and the final, as in 2021.
UEFA was not cooled by the organizational flaws which led certain people, without tickets, to force entry to Wembley before the final lost by England against Italy two years ago, ‘after Bullingham. “They know we spent a lot of money improving the stadium. They are really convinced that we can offer a brilliant Euro and that is what we are going to do.he assured.
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