SFA set to snub Celtic Park for UEFA deal
Celtic Park won’t be included in the UK and Ireland bid to host Euro 2028.
After being advised that a bid to host the World Cup Finals would receive little support outside of Europe the home associations have virtually been guaranteed the 2028 European Championships.
Glasgow can offer three 50,000 plus capacity stadiums but it seems like the biggest football stadium and one recognised and admired across European football will be overlooked for Hampden and a rugby stadium in Edinburgh.
Discussing the bid from five home associations, The Scotsman reports:
It is understood 18 grounds are in the frame for what could be an expanded tournament. The European Championships is currently made up of 24 teams but it could be increased to 32 for the 2028 edition.
Two grounds have been pinpointed in Scotland to host matches. Hampden Park, which hosted four matches at Euro 2020, is guaranteed as the home of Scottish football.
Celtic Park and Ibrox are unlikely to be considered with Scottish Rugby’s BT Murrayfield a proposed venue. It holds 67,500 fans and is used to hosting big events.
Should Celtic Park be included in the Euro 2028 bid?
Government funding is likely to be needed for Hampden to be brought upto date, after hosting matches at last summer’s European Championships there wasn’t much praise for the stadium with fans watching from poor vantage points behind both goals.
The SFA have resisted various offers to take matches to Murrayfield but it seems that Edinburgh has to be included in any Scottish bid.
In November 2014 Celtic Park hosted internationals between Scotland and Ireland then England within the space of a week.