UK government investing up to £557 million in tournament, which will deliver £3.2 billion socio-economic boost for the UK, promoting growth and creating jobs across the nations
- Prime Minister, Culture Secretary and England international Tyrone Mings host event at 10 Downing Street to mark UK and Ireland hosting UEFA EURO 2028, attended by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin
- Government hails the tournament as an unparalleled opportunity to bring millions of people together from all backgrounds
- £45 million social impact fund to spark community activities from 2026 through to 2030
A special event has been hosted at 10 Downing Street today, as the Prime Minister and Culture Secretary hailed the UK and Ireland hosting the UEFA European Football Championships in 2028 (UEFA EURO 2028) as a unique opportunity to bring the nations together, unite communities and generate a significant boost to the economy.
The event, attended by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and England international Tyrone Mings, coincides with UEFA today announcing the tournament match schedule with Cardiff's Principality Stadium hosting the opening match and Wembley hosting the final. At the event school children had the opportunity to play football in a venue like no other when they played in the No.10 garden.
The tournament will be the biggest sporting event the UK and Ireland have ever jointly hosted and world-class football is expected to create shared experiences in packed stadiums, fan zones in city centres, pubs and living rooms.
The UK government is investing up to £557 million into hosting the tournament, which will generate significant socio-economic benefits across all UK nations. Following an updated and upgraded independent assessment, UEFA EURO 2028 is now predicted to deliver £3.2 billion of socio-economic benefits across the UK - creating jobs, driving regional growth, and bringing a surge of international visitors whose spending will boost local economies.
To coincide with this, the Governments and football partners across the UK and Ireland have committed around £45 million to a social impact fund for UEFA EURO 2028, with the UK Government contributing £23 million to deliver initiatives. This investment will fund programmes that will have 'togetherness' at its heart, directly supporting the Government's mission of patriotic renewal by creating a more socially cohesive country with an inclusive national story.
It will be the first international men's football tournament to be fully hosted in the UK and Ireland since UEFA EURO '96 when England staged the competition.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said:
"UEFA EURO 2028 will be the biggest sporting event ever jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland and, as a lifelong football fan, I know how much international competitions like this matter.
"This tournament will bring fans from across Europe to iconic footballing cities like Birmingham and Glasgow, inspire the next generation to lace up their boots, and deliver billions in economic benefits."
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
"The summer of 2028 will be a massive moment for the whole of the UK and Ireland as we welcome football fans from across Europe. Football reaches people like nothing else - it crosses every boundary, speaks every language, and has the power to bring together communities in ways that other things simply cannot.
"We are poised to do all we can to make this an unforgettable experience. The legacy starts now, not in 2028. We will be launching activities years before the tournament that will continue long after the final whistle - creating new opportunities for children to get active and healthy in safe spaces, generating exciting moments for communities to unite around their shared excitement, and maximising the potential to boost economies in host cities and far beyond."
From independent cafés to major suppliers, local businesses and communities across the country will reap direct economic rewards. Dedicated volunteering initiatives will enhance skills development and open exciting pathways into employment across the regions, creating opportunities that last long after the tournament ends.
Today the UK Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock also chaired a meeting attended by Ministerial representatives from the Government of Ireland, Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government and Welsh Government as well as UEFA to discuss the successful delivery of the tournament and how plans are progressing.
UK Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said:
"UEFA EURO 2028 is a fantastic opportunity for governments across the Devolved Administrations to work together closely to put on the best football tournament in a generation that benefits people right across the UK and Ireland.
"Major sporting events like this unite communities, giving them something to be proud of. I am pleased to work with my inter-governmental colleagues to deliver the best, most inclusive tournament that we can, across the UK and Ireland.
"Although the host nations may end up competing against each other on the pitch, off the pitch we will be working as one team to make the tournament a roaring success, whether that be encouraging engagement in sport, bringing communities together, or growing our economies."
The tournament builds on the UK's proud tradition as a world-leading host of major sporting events. Over the next decade, the UK will welcome the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, the European Athletics Championships 2026, the ICC T20 Cricket women's and men's World Cups (in 2026 and 2030 respectively), the Invictus Games 2027 in Birmingham, the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Departs 2027, and UEFA EURO 2028. The UK also has strong ambitions to secure the World Athletics Championships in 2029 and the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2035.
Alongside our EURO 2028 impact programme, the government has also committed approximately half a billion pounds investment into grassroots community sport from 2025 to 2030, ensuring sport is accessible at every level - from local playing fields where tomorrow's champions take their first steps, to world-class tournaments that capture the imagination of the nation.
