Irish government wants to host more Euro 2028 games

The Irish government has indicated to Uefa a desire to host more Euro 2028 tournament matches in the Republic of Ireland.

The European Championship finals will be staged across the UK and Ireland, with the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to host six matches.

Five games were scheduled to take place in Belfast but the UK government's decision not to provide funding to rebuild Casement Park in the west of the city in time for the Euros put pay to that.

The cost of rebuilding the derelict Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stadium to a specification which would allow it to host Euro matches had escalated, with the UK government saying that the finances required had exceeded £400m.

Speaking at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, Irish Culture and Sports Minister Catherine Martin said that she would like to see more of the tournament's matches held on the island of Ireland.

On the prospect of additional Euros games potentially being staged outside of Dublin, she said: "I think that's ultimately for the stakeholders themselves to decide. But yes, the more that can be held on a wider spread.

"I always talk about regional tourism as well, and looking at the 250,000 people working in tourism, 70% of them are in the regions."

Irish ministers had initially suggested that the GAA's home at Croke Park in Dublin and Cork's Pairc Ui Chaoimh could be potential alternative venues after Casement Park dropped out of the running.

Junior minister for sport Thomas Byrne also addressed the issue while attending the launch of Ireland's national strategy for hosting major international sporting events.

"We want more matches, we've expressed a view to Uefa, we want them on a regional basis, I've spoken about that before," he said.

"Our overarching objective is to have more games on the island. There's ongoing discussions with partners about that, but it is their decision at the end of the day."