Junior Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne, explained that the request for more matches emphasized a “regional basis,” implying they should be held outside of Dublin.

This comes after the UK Government announced last month it would not fund the reconstruction of Casement Park in Belfast in time for the tournament. The derelict Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stadium was originally set to host five matches in Euro 2028, which will be co-hosted by the UK and Ireland.

Currently, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, home to Ireland’s national football team, is slated to host six matches. With Casement Park no longer an option, Irish officials have suggested that Dublin’s Croke Park and Cork’s Pairc Ui Chaoimh could serve as alternative venues.

During a press event at the Aviva Stadium, Catherine Martin, Ireland’s Minister for Culture and Sports, expressed her desire for more of the tournament to take place on the island of Ireland. When asked about holding matches outside of Dublin, she said it would ultimately be up to the stakeholders but supported a broader regional distribution. She also highlighted the importance of regional tourism, noting that 70% of Ireland’s 250,000 tourism workers are based outside the capital.

Minister Byrne reiterated Ireland’s request to UEFA for more matches and the focus on a regional approach. He emphasized the government’s ongoing discussions with partners but acknowledged the final decision rests with UEFA.

The ministers were at the Aviva Stadium to launch Ireland’s national strategy for hosting major international sporting events. Ms. Martin said the strategy is aimed at attracting some of the world’s top sporting events while carefully considering the economic and community impacts of each bid.

Mr. Byrne added that there is no need for a dedicated agency to approve bids for major international sports events. He noted that the government has turned down some proposals in the past when the economics didn’t make sense and said this would continue to be the approach going forward.

Addressing concerns about high ticket prices for the Ryder Cup, which will be held in Limerick in 2027, Mr. Byrne emphasized the importance of ensuring that major events remain accessible to the public. He also spoke about the legacy benefits of such events, particularly in encouraging greater participation in sports like golf.

Additionally, the ministers confirmed that bids for Ireland to host an NFL regular season game and a World Rally Championship event are under active consideration.