According to The Times, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium has been selected over Manchester United’s Old Trafford as one of the 10 stadiums to be featured in the official British and Irish bid for Euro 2028.
The bid will be submitted to UEFA next week, with Wembley Stadium proposed as the venue for the tournament’s final.
Despite Old Trafford’s greater capacity of 74,300 compared to Etihad’s 53,400, the latter was preferred due to UEFA requirements not being met by the former and potential uncertainties surrounding the club’s future ownership.
Manchester United expressed their pleasure at submitting Old Trafford as a potential host for Uefa Euro 2028 matches and the strength of their case.
A Statement from the club’s owners surfaced after they lost the bid to City..
“After engaging in further discussions with the FA, it was evident that we were unable to offer assurances about the availability of Old Trafford, given the potential redevelopment plans for the stadium. Consequently, we have decided to withdraw from the shortlist of prospective hosts by mutual agreement.
Despite this decision, we remain dedicated to upholding Old Trafford’s position as England’s most prominent and distinguished football stadium, and we eagerly anticipate future prospects for hosting significant events and international matches at ‘the Theatre of Dreams.’
Manchester United wishes the FA success in their bid to secure hosting rights for the 2028 tournament, and we offer our best wishes to all involved”.
Manchester United co-owner Joel Glazer would opt for redeveloping Old Trafford rather than building a new stadium if his family remains in charge.