Everton Stadium will be one of the venues in the UK and Ireland's preliminary bid to host the European Championships in 2028.
The Blues are scheduled to move into their new £500million home in the 2024/25 season and the ground on the Liverpool waterfront at Bramley-Moore Dock is part of attempts to old the tournament in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after England and Scotland both hosted some games – including the Wembley final – along with several other nations in latest edition of the competition held last summer after being delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although Goodison Park was one of the venues when England hosted the World Cup for the only time to date in 1966, hosting three group games, a quarter-final and semi-final, it missed out to Anfield for Euro ’96. The UK and Ireland bid – up against Turkey – also includes Wembley, Old Trafford, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Stadium, City of Manchester Stadium (Etihad), St James’ Park, Villa Park and Sunderland’s Stadium of Light from England; Dublin Arena and Croke Park from Ireland; Casement Park Stadium from Northern Ireland; Hampden Park from Scotland and the National Stadium of Wales.
With a planned capacity of 52,888, Everton Stadium has been chosen as the preferred venue for the City of Liverpool and Everton chief executive Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale said: “We are proud that Everton Stadium and the City of Liverpool has been shortlisted to form part of the UK and Ireland’s strong bid for Euro 2028. We believe our new waterfront stadium and the city of Liverpool can offer resources and infrastructure that make it a perfect location for one of the most celebrated and anticipated tournaments in our sport.
“Everton has a rich and storied footballing history and, like our game, that is woven into the fabric of our city. Regardless of footballing affiliation, people in our region are not only passionate about their football but knowledgeable about the sport and, more importantly for a host city, are very welcoming.
“Hosting games at Euro 2028 will allow the club and the local authorities to build on the transformational impact Everton Stadium is already having on our city region. Should we be selected as a host venue and city - and if the UK and Ireland bid is successful in the overall process - these games will inspire young people from many of our diverse communities.
"It will also allow Everton Stadium to act as a further catalyst for delivering meaningful socio-economic public benefits after the stadium build has been completed, during the tournament and beyond.
"Goodison Park hosted matches in the 1966 World Cup. In the same way that the club’s role in that tournament is fondly remembered today, Everton Stadium being part of Euro 2028 will create memories and a legacy that will last a generation.”
Everton Stadium will one of the most accessible and sustainable sporting venues in the country and, combined with a legacy development at Goodison Park, is estimated to generate a £1.3bn boost to the economy, create more than 15,000 jobs and attract 1.4m visitors annually to the city. Consultation will now continue into next year with a final list of 10 stadia to be submitted to UEFA in 2023.
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